CONCERNS about pharmacists prescribing during the Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot - Queensland (UTIPP-Q) raised by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) are unfounded, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Queensland Branch believes.
Responding to claims made by the RACGP in its submission on the proposed amendments to part two of the UTIPP-Q circumstances and conditions of the extended practice authority (EPA) - Pharmacists, consultation paper, Guild Queensland Branch President, Chris Owen, said the trial's outcome report backed the safety and efficacy of pharmacists' prescribing.
"The outcomes report of the UTIPP-Q, independently produced by the Queensland University of Technology, clearly shows that the UTI service provided safe, effective and convenient care to women experiencing uncomplicated UTIs," he said.
"The UTI service provided significant value and benefit to female patients.
"The nearly 9,000 women that have accessed the UTI service since its inception are evidence that this service is in demand and provides positive health outcomes.
"Women were appropriately referred due to age, gender, complicating conditions, symptoms other than UTI or when their symptoms didn't resolve so that they could still receive treatment.
"Community pharmacists have followed the same protocols as general practitioners.
"The outcomes report also demonstrated that 'pharmacists have delivered safe and appropriate care that align to clinical protocols within the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines', and that 'pharmacists have the appropriate skills, competencies and training to manage the empiric treatment of uncomplicated UTIs in the community pharmacy'.
"The incredible strain on our peers within general practices and emergency departments has and continues to be widely reported on.
"Community pharmacists working to their full scope can assist in reducing the burden on general practice and emergency departments and help improve timely access to primary healthcare services for Queenslanders.
"Queensland community pharmacists providing the UTI service is progress towards the success seen in similar countries, where pharmacists have contributed safely and positively to healthcare services for many years through expansion of their scope of practice."
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