The NSW health minister has announced further scope expansions for pharmacists. The lobby groups have called the move ‘incredibly reckless’.
At last night’s Pharmacy Guild conference, NSW health minister Ryan Park announced that plans were already underway to expand pharmacists’ scope to include the treatment of several acute conditions, with additional training but with no mention of a preceding pilot.
According to Pharmacy Daily, and unbeknownst to AMA NSW and the RACGP, the government will also launch a pilot in regional NSW to allow pharmacists to treat more chronic conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within 12 months.
Minister Park’s office did not respond to Health Service Daily’s requests for confirmation of the regional pilot prior to publication deadline.
The acute conditions expansion will enable pharmacists who have completed a year-long training course to treat acute nausea, ear infections, minor wound management, reflux, acne and musculoskeletal pain.
NSW health is currently working with universities to develop the training.
The changes mirror a pilot being undertaken in Queensland. Any pharmacists who have completed the Queensland pilot training will be able to deliver some of these services in NSW from January 2025.
Beyond that, the roll out could commence as early as 2026.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW branch president David Heffernan said pharmacy was ready and raring to go.
“Whether it’s providing ten million vaccinations during covid or treating over 18,000 uncomplicated UTIs over the past year, pharmacists have shown that they are able to offer more of the everyday healthcare patients need,” he said.
“These changes will mean that patients aren’t forced to present to hospital for a simple ear infection just because their GP can’t see them.”
The NSW community pharmacy trial began with phase one, involving treatment of UTIs, which was completed in May this year.
Despite a lack of evaluation of the trial, the government transitioned UTI treatment into usual pharmacy care from June this year.
The final stage, involving the treatment of minor skin conditions is set to run until early 2025, with an evaluation of all three stages due in 2025.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) NSW President Luke Kelly touted the “success” of the NSW pharmacy trial, despite the lack of evaluation.
“PSA is committed to workforce preparation, including training, education, practice support and upskilling of pharmacists to undertake and deliver these services.”
The NSW government reiterated that the moves were part of an effort to “alleviate pressure on GPs”, despite the expansion continuing to attract ire from the profession.
Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said families from the area were struggling to get in to see a GP.
“We know that the GP shortage is hurting families in New South Wales and that the NSW Government needs to do what it can to make access to everyday healthcare easier,” she said.
Speaking to HSD, AMA NSW councillor Dr Ken McCroary said the association was taking a “hard no” position on the announcement.
RACGP NSW and ACT chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman, the policy was “politically driven” and disregarded patient safety.
“The NSW government is kidding itself if it thinks this move will do anything to reduce pressure on the state’s overflowing hospitals. If anything, it will have the opposite effect,” she said in a statement.
“We know from the UK that letting non-medically trained health professionals do the work of GPs results in much higher rates of incorrect treatment, delayed diagnosis and serious illnesses being missed.
“There is a reason the Therapeutic Goods Administration determines certain medicines require prescriptions – it’s to protect the health of Australians.
“State governments like NSW are incredibly reckless in bypassing our national regulations for the safe use of medicines, without even piloting it to see the impact on patients’ health outcomes.
“NSW is on a trajectory towards a two-tier healthcare system in which those who can afford GP care can see it, while everyone else will have to settle for ‘cheaper’ services at a retail pharmacy.”
The AMA NSW and the RACGP told HSD that they were not informed about the expansion of pharmacy scope into chronic diseases.