Pharmacy Daily | PSA seeks funding boost in Tasmania

THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Tasmanian Branch is seeking $2 million from the State Government to fund a pilot trial of after-hours services it says could deliver significant savings.

In its pre-budget submission, released on Fri, the PSA Tasmania President, Dr Ella van Tienen, called for pharmacists to be empowered to work to their full scope of practice, including providing minor ailments care.

"For a whole raft of reasons our emergency departments are under immense pressure," she said. "Contributing to the burden are the number of presentations by patients with less-serious ailments, such as minor pain management or cold and flu.

"Recent research shows pharmacists have the skills and expertise to support patients who would currently seek care from a GP or hospital. Pharmacists can provide self-care advice, which in most cases is what is needed, or triage patients and refer them to the appropriate health service.

"Pharmacists are located throughout our local communities and a network are already open after-hours, making them well placed to do more. We estimate this initiative could save Tasmania's health budget over $4 million a year."

The PSA also called for an additional $700,000 to fund a dedicated medicines safety pharmacist to work in each of Tasmania's five adult mental health services.

"Tasmania's mental health outpatient facilities provide care to some of the most vulnerable members of our community," van Tienen said.

"Medicines are a major treatment modality for many people with a mental illness and due to the nature of these medicines and complexity of medication regimes, there is increased risk of medication error and harm.

"Tasmania actually has the highest proportion of people dispensed with mental health-related prescriptions. To ensure these medicines are used safely we would like pharmacists more actively involved in the care team."