Pharmacy Daily | Twomey focused on full scope push

NEWLY elected Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, has pledged to continue to pursue the organisation's goal of ensuring pharmacists can work to their full scope of practice.

Twomey was confirmed as the Guild's new leader after a National Council meeting on Fri, having revealed he was the sole candidate running for the position last week (PD 18 Mar).

"This is truly an honour and I enthusiastically look forward to supporting our members and community pharmacy nationally," he said.

"As pharmacists we should be proud to provide the highest levels of primary healthcare for every Australian community.

"I will be working hard to ensure community pharmacists are allowed to work to their full scope of practice in the interests of patients and the future of our primary healthcare sector.

"This will enable community pharmacies to deliver more services to patients and help ease pressure on other areas of the primary healthcare sector.

"It is time that we are universally recognised as primary health professionals and it is imperative that our Governments and colleagues in other areas of primary healthcare recognise us as we do them.

"Such recognition will also ensure the skills and expertise of community pharmacists are better and more fully utilised."

Accepting the role, Twomey hailed the success of his predecessor, George Tambassis, during his seven years as President.

"He has been at the helm for the negotiation and implementation of two Community Pharmacy Agreements which have strengthened the foundations of the profession and helped to ensure the future of the community pharmacy sector," Twomey said.

"His commitment to community pharmacy and our patients follows a long line of distinguished National Presidents and I am proud to be able to follow a pharmacy leader of such achievement and high standing."

Welcoming Twomey's elevation to the Guild Presidency, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President, Associate Professor, Chris Freeman, stressed the need for "strong, inclusive and consistent leadership across all the pharmacy representative organisations."

"PSA welcomes a new era of collaboration with the Guild on how we can support pharmacists to realise their scope of practice, and bring better roles, remuneration and recognition to the profession," Freeman said.

"I have a strong respect for Trent and what he has been able to achieve for the community pharmacy sector.

"I am committed to working to support a close, frank and professional collaboration between the Presidents of the Guild and PSA.

"We have seen in the past when we work together the profession as a whole benefits."