Tasmanian pharmacists now eligible to vaccinate children against COVID-19

Friday 25th March 2022

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) Tasmanian Branch has welcomed the announcement that pharmacist immunisers in Tasmania are now eligible to protect the state’s children against COVID-19.

 

Today, Premier Gutwein confirmed changes to allow the provision of COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5-11 through local pharmacies.

 

PSA Tasmania Branch President, David Peachey, said immunity in Tasmania’s young people is the missing link at the moment and pharmacists can play a key role in protecting this important population.

 

“This is welcomed news for Tasmania’s pharmacist immunisers, who will now be able to opt-in to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to this paediatric cohort.

 

“We are delighted that the state will now be brought in line with the rest of the nation, improving access to vaccination for families residing in regional parts of the state.

 

“It is imperative that all Tasmanian children can access COVID-19 vaccinations from pharmacists, Australia’s most accessible healthcare workforce, in order to keep themselves, their families and the community safe.

 

“Vaccination is the best way to ensure that these susceptible populations and their families are protected against the virus, and soon, they’ll have the convenient option of protecting themselves through local pharmacies.

 

“Our pharmacists are trained and experienced in vaccinating younger age groups against other vaccine-preventable diseases and are now on standby to protect them against COVID-19.

 

“Authorised immunisers must have successfully completed the mandatory vaccine training provided by the Department of Health, including all the relevant vaccine-specific modules for vaccines available through the pharmacy program,” Mr Peachey said.

 

PSA continues to work closely with the TGA and ATAGI to ensure pharmacists are equipped with the most up-to-date advice regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness.

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

 

PSA welcomes Government’s commitment to improve medicine safety in Aged Care

Friday 25 March 2022

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the Government’s commitment to provide funding of $345.7 million to improve medicine safety for older Australians by embedding pharmacists in residential aged care facilities.

 

This morning, the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Greg Hunt, announced that from 1 January 2023, pharmacists will play an even greater role in dispensing medicines within Australia’s residential aged care facilities.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, was in attendance when the announcement was made.

 

“Today’s announcement from Minister Hunt has been long-awaited. This is a win for those residents who will now have greater access to medicines experts, our pharmacists, and I have no doubt that this sentiment will be shared by the aged care sector.

 

“PSA has been advocating for funding to improve medicine safety in residential aged care facilities since 2018, following the establishment of the Royal Commission into Aged Care – and now, almost four years later, the Government has taken action.

 

“The Royal Commission into Aged Care detailed well-known issues like the overuse of psychotropic medicines, and since then, troubling data on medication misadventure has continued to emerge.

 

“Since the Royal Commission was established, PSA has been working closely with all governments to implement recommendations outlined in our Medicine safety: aged care report from 2020, and it is incredibly pleasing to see that our advice has been heeded.

 

“With more than 19,000 Australians in residential aged care prescribed antipsychotics with no indication, the level of chemical restraint must be addressed. We also know that the more medicines someone is prescribed, the more likely it is to cause harm.

 

“The evidence is clear – pharmacists need to be an embedded part of the aged care equation if medication misadventure is to be minimised and rectified.

 

“As the custodians and experts of medication safety, embedding pharmacists in aged care is the obvious solution to address the longstanding issues of polypharmacy and chemical restraint in aged care facilities. We are delighted that the Government will now invest in our pharmacist workforce to improve the quality of care for aged care residents.

 

“Over the next four years, this $345.7 million contribution to supporting pharmacists embedded in aged care will make a significant difference to protecting and improving the quality of life for our aged care residents. Consultation on the most suitable model will occur over the next six months.

 

“It is crucial that aged care service providers are allowed the flexibility to determine how they secure pharmacist services. Some facilities may choose to contract pharmacists through community pharmacies, some may choose to employ a pharmacist directly, or via a third party.

 

“It can’t be a one size fits all approach as every facility is different. Therefore, all of these options must be accommodated.

 

“We look forward to working with the Minister and the Department of Health on the implementation.” A/Prof Freeman said.

 

Get involved

PSA is here to support Australian pharmacists who are interested in working within the aged care sector. For more information on becoming a Residential Aged Care Pharmacist, please visit this link. PSA also offers the Residential Aged Care Pharmacist: Foundation Training Program, available here.

 

Background

PSA’s Medicine safety: aged care report found that:

 

• Over 95% of people living in aged care facilities have at least one problem with their medicines detected at the time of a medicines review; most have three problems
• 50% of people with dementia are taking medicines with anticholinergic properties, which can worsen confusion and other symptoms of dementia.
• One fifth of people living in aged care are on antipsychotics; more than half use the medicine for too long.

 

The Report from the Royal Commission in to Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended that “the Australian Government immediately improve access to quality medication management reviews for people receiving aged care by:

1. allowing and funding pharmacists from 1 January 2022 to conduct reviews on entry to residential care and annually thereafter, or more often if there has been a significant change to the person receiving care’s condition or medication regimen;
2. amending the criteria for eligibility for residential medication management reviews to include people in residential respite care and transition care;
3. monitoring quality and consistency of medication management reviews.”

 

The Royal Commission detailed well known issues in medicine management – notably the use of restrictive practices which could not be justified in 90% of cases, and overuse of sedating medicines.

 

PSA has suggested that a flexible practice model is needed to give aged care providers and residents the best access to pharmacist-delivered care, and accreditation of pharmacists entering aged care to perform medication reviews must remain mandatory to support consistent, high quality care.

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463

Pharmacist named NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year!

9 March 2022

 

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) congratulates Anna Barwick on being named the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year. The NSW Women of the Year Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions from women across the state.

 

Ms Barwick, PSA’s 2021 NSW Pharmacist of the Year, was honoured by Premier Perrottet in Sydney this morning for her contribution to the state’s health system and telehealth more specifically. Ms Barwick also served on PSA’s NSW Branch Committee from July 2014 to June 2020.

 

A PhD candidate at the University of Queensland who hails from Walcha, Ms Barwick is the founder of PharmOnline, an innovative platform which connects Australian patients living in remote areas with pharmacy services.

 

PSA National President, A/Prof Chris Freeman, congratulated Anna on her achievement.

 

“On behalf of the PSA, I congratulate Anna on receiving this prestigious award – she is utterly deserving of such an honour.

 

“As a PSA member and last year’s Pharmacist of the Year in NSW, Anna’s efforts have ensured that Australians living in geographically remote areas can access essential healthcare, particularly in the management of safe medication use, irrespective of their location.

 

“Anna was also a recipient of PSA’s Pharmacy Shark Tank award at our national conference last year and PSA is proud to have supported Anna with her innovation.

 

“Anna truly embodies excellence in pharmacy, and on the back of International Women’s Day yesterday, I am delighted to see that an outstanding female pharmacist has been acknowledged for her devotion to improving the lives of the NSW community,” he said.

 

Upon receiving the award, Ms Barwick said her focus is to improve the health of Australians living in regional areas.

 

“It is an honour and a privilege to be recognised amongst an outstanding group of women in both the NSW Minerals Council Regional Woman and the Premier’s Woman Award. I would like to thank the sponsors and organisers from the Department of Communities and Justice, along with the Minister for Women, The Hon Bronnie Taylor, for championing women on IWD.

 

“I dedicate this honour to all pharmacists and pharmacy staff that remained available and supported their local communities throughout the pandemic. You are truly inspirational!

 

“My team of pharmacists is growing. They have a number of specialities that are not readily available in regional and rural areas, helping to reduce barriers to medication expertise and healthcare. I would like to thank them for putting their trust in me to create a new way to access pharmacists.

 

PSA congratulates Anna on her achievement and thanks her for her service to Australian pharmacy.

 

Learn more about Anna’s work in Australian Pharmacist