THE Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has called on major political parties in New South Wales ahead of the 23 Mar election day, to prioritise investment in clinical pharmacy services, opioid stewardship and electronic medical records to improve patient care.
The NSW Branch of SHPA has prepared a document 2019 NSW State Election Priorities detailing how the expansion of services would help reduce medication-related incidents and opioid-related harm in the state.
SHPA Chief Executive Kristin Michaels says clinical pharmacy investment would bring NSW in line with other states and territories, while providing both optimal patient care and economic return.
"There are an average of 75 medication-related incidents in NSW each day and two serious incidents each week resulting in patient harm," Michaels said.
"International evidence shows regular pharmacist input in a hospital setting results in a reduced length of stay and increased patient satisfaction, and Australian evidence has shown a $23 return for every $1 spent on clinical pharmacy services in public hospitals."
Michaels argued that an investment in hospital pharmacists and extended weekend and after-hours pharmacy services, as is common in other jurisdictions, is vital for patient care outcomes.
"NSW's hospital pharmacist to hospital bed ratio is the lowest in the country -- it's time for that to change."
Michaels says NSW has the third highest proportion of deaths involving pharmaceutical opioids in Australia, at 2.1 per 100,000 people with 70% of opioid prescribing initiated in the hospital setting.
Visit shpa.org.au for the document.
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