Pharmacy Daily | NSW Labor pledges scope expansion

MOVES to expand pharmacists' scope of practice will go ahead in NSW regardless of which of the major parties forms government after the State election next Mar.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch President, David Heffernan, told Pharmacy Daily that the organisation has received a letter from NSW Labor Shadow Minister for Health, Ryan Park, committing increasing pharmacists' scope, if the party wins the election.

Park's pledge followed NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet's announcement of a 12-month trial to evaluate allowing pharmacists to prescribe medication for urinary tract infections (UTIs), based on the successful Queensland program which became a permanent part of pharmacists' scope of practice in the sunshine state in Oct (PD 14 Nov).

"NSW Labor supports these reforms and should we be given the privilege of forming a Government after the election in Mar we will continue to see the implementation of these improvements," Park said.

Speaking at the Guild NSW Branch's Parliamentary Dinner in Oct (PD 21 Oct), Park said the State was "in a very challenging period in terms of access to primary healthcare".

"It's a challenge both in the cities, but also a big challenge in regional and rural communities," he said.

"Having spoken to many regional and rural pharmacists, they've made it very clear to me... that pharmacists have the ability to do more, they want to do more, because they want to help the community.

"Those things are important, not just to pharmacists, they're important to the community and they're important to the health system."

Heffernan welcomed Park's commitment to the profession.

"Delivering better, more accessible everyday healthcare to patients should be an issue above politics, and we're glad to see agreement between the major parties on this issue," he said.

"Patients across NSW can now be guaranteed that they will have easier access to everyday healthcare no matter who forms government next Mar."