TASMANIAN Premier, Peter Gutwein's appointment of the State's Deputy Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, as Health Minister, is being welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Guild Tasmanian Branch President, Helen O'Bryne, said the organisation was looking forward to working with Rockliff to progress the Gutwein Government's plans to expand the scope of pharmacists in the State "as soon as possible".
"We have worked with Mr Rockliff previously in his Mental Health and Wellbeing portfolio and are delighted that he will continue in that role as well as taking on the Health portfolio," she said.
"We are particularly keen to start the process of undertaking a scope of practice review for Tasmanian pharmacists, to consider what other services and support pharmacists can safely provide for the community.
"Through utilising the community pharmacy network and enabling pharmacists to work to their full scope of practice, the State can achieve a more sustainable hospital system and ensure better local healthcare access for all Tasmanians."
O'Bryne also thanked former Health Minister, Sarah Courtney, for her efforts to ensure "open, inclusive and informed communication flowed between the Health Department and the organisations representing the various health professions during the pandemic".
The Guild leader added that Courtney's recognition of the role community pharmacy can play was key to the Gutwein Government's pre-election pledge to extend access to National Immunisation Program vaccines to pharmacists (PD 22 Apr).
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 19 May 21
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