News
More GPs needed, not more responsibilities for community pharmacists
Friday August 9, 2024
The best way the State Government can help take pressure off GPs and improve access to care is to ensure there are more trained general practitioners in the community, according to AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Page.
Dr Page was responding to the Government’s commitment to a new expanded role for community pharmacists in Western Australia.
In addition to the Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) treatment program and the Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) resupply program, pharmacists will be trained and authorised to deliver care for a broad range of acute specific conditions. These include mild to moderate shingles, acne, dermatitis, musculoskeletal pain and inflammation, nausea and vomiting, and wound management.
“Whilst claims have been made that the UTI treatment program has been successful, we don’t actually know what the outcomes are in terms of diagnoses being correctly made, the appropriate use of antibiotics, and referral of more complex patients to doctors,” said Dr Page.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said expanding the role of community pharmacy was practical and common-sense policy that would ease cost-of-living pressures for people across the State.
“Ultimately, this approach will enhance primary care, freeing up time for GPs to support more complex patients in need of more urgent care,” she said.
“We remain committed to creating a more responsive healthcare system, capable of meeting the evolving needs of our population.”
However, Dr Page said that was an unproven assertion.
“The Pharmacy Guild recently claimed there was a shortage of 2,448 pharmacists, so how can they absorb extra work? Will we not just see access block at the point of the pharmacist?” he said.
“The best way to enhance primary care is to support it, rather than undermine it; we need to train more GPs, and better resource those that we have.”
Dr Page said the main concerns of the AMA (WA) were in regard to quality, training and continuity of care.
“Critical to the safety of this trial will be ensuring seamless communication between pharmacists providing extra services, and the GP responsible for coordinating that patient’s care. Will GPs be kept in the loop when patients with complex medical needs have new treatments started by pharmacists? When pharmacist-initiated treatment fails and the patient needs to see a doctor, what records will be available to that doctor?” Dr Page asked.
Ms Sanderson said the Government would work with universities to ensure pharmacists are appropriately skilled, authorised and ready to assist Western Australians across the State.
Design, development and implementation will take place over the next two years, with the aim for pharmacists to deliver advanced care by 2027.
“We will work constructively with the Government to ensure patients receive the best possible care,” Dr Page said.
“Our expectation is that the new protocols will be rigorously evaluated to ensure they deliver safe, high-quality care at an acceptable cost.”
