New directions?
August 4, 2011
IT seems it is not only
Australian pharmacists calling
for an expansion of
professional responsibilities,
with the Pharmacy Guild of NZ
saying the emerging UK trend of
pharmacists as healthcare
providers may be a possible
model for the profession in
New Zealand.
The comments come on the
back of a joint release by the
UK Royal Pharmaceutical
Society and Royal College of
General Practitioners on how
community pharmacists and
GPs can work together to
improve patient care.
The statement recommended
a “culture change” between
GPs, pharmacists and the
public to allow a collaborative
partnership that would deliver
greater health care and health
cost benefits.
“Community pharmacists in
New Zealand have deep and
detailed knowledge of
medicines and would welcome
a broader role in patient
healthcare,” said NZ Guild Chief
Executive, Annabel Young.
“It would also help alleviate
some of the pressure points in
our primary healthcare system,”
she added.
Getting pharmacists to work
more closely with both GPs and
practice nurses is an important
step, according to Young, which
would deliver better healthcare
to vulnerable groups such as
those in care homes or elderly
patients who are taking a large
number of medicines.
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