Pharmacists welcome Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the peak national body for pharmacists in Australia, welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement of their intention to launch a Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

 

The Royal Commission is expected to investigate quality of care in private and government-run aged care facilities following the exposure of cases of neglect, elder abuse and other concerns.

 

“Inappropriate use of medication in aged care has been a concern for many years,” said PSA National President Dr Shane Jackson.

 

“We’ve seen reports that indicate over 50% of residents in some aged care facilities are receiving sedative type medications, have suboptimal pain control, and are taking medications that are no longer necessary. Crushing of medications puts residents at greater risk of side effects, including falls.”

 

The ABC’s Four Corners program has screened the first of a two-part investigation into the treatment of older Australians in aged care homes, including examples of inappropriate medicines use.

 

“These reports are particularly distressing to our members,” said Dr Jackson. “Pharmacists are a key group of health professionals who understand how much medicine safety and quality directly impacts the health and wellbeing of vulnerable residents in aged care facilities – both negatively and positively.

 

“Better co-ordination and greater investment in healthcare professionals like pharmacists needs to be built into the operation and design of aged care facilities.

 

“Research shows positive health outcomes are delivered in models where pharmacists and pharmacy services are embedded and integrated within aged care facilities. These pharmacists support doctors in making the right decisions about the use of medications, guide nurses in the correct administration of medications, and regularly review medications residents are taking.

 

“Unfortunately, what we see in practice is that all too often they are not there, and it is our aged care residents who pay the price,” said Dr Jackson.

 

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Media contact:

Jarryd Luke

Senior Communications Officer

0487 922 176

Changes to Self Care program

Changes to the Self Care program are coming soon. The Self Care program is designed for pharmacies to deliver improved health care to patients. It provides resources and training to educate pharmacy staff, add value to the patient’s experience, and aims to increase business growth with tailored health promotions and resources.

PSA summit to unite pharmacists and doctors for patient safety

August 17, 2018

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia will host an inter-professional collaboration summit to explore how doctors and pharmacists can work together more effectively to support patient care through the safe use of medicines.

 

Prompted by a recent Coroner’s report into the death of a Melbourne man following complications of methotrexate toxicity, the summit will bring together leaders from key pharmacy, medical and consumer organisations at Pharmacy House in Canberra on 21 August 2018.

 

In handing down her findings, Coroner Rosemary Carlin said the patient’s unnecessary death resulted from key failings of the pharmacist and prescribing doctor to work collaboratively to effectively resolve a prescribing error. In particular, the coroner noted “Doctors and pharmacists should trust and respect each other, whilst retaining their independence. In dismissing her concerns, it appears that Dr Lim did not afford the respect she deserved. In dispensing the methotrexate despite her concerns, it appears that afforded too much respect, or at least lost sight of her role as an independent safeguard against inappropriate prescribing.”

 

PSA National President Dr Shane Jackson said the Coroner’s report highlights the need for a more collaborative relationship between pharmacists and doctors that recognises their respective roles and responsibilities while also acknowledging their independence.

 

“The summit will seek to develop a set of principles to support respectful and collaborative practice between pharmacists and doctors,” Dr Jackson said.

 

“It is time to work together on key principles that underpin the collaborative relationship between pharmacists and doctors, particularly regarding the safe use of medicines, for the benefit of our patients.

 

“We have invited other professional bodies to join the summit so together, we can empower pharmacists and doctors to meet their duty of care in regards to patient safety.”

 

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Media contact: 
Jarryd Luke
Communications Officer
0487 922 176

Australians endorse pharmacist vaccinations

August 14, 2018

Almost two-in-three Australians believe pharmacists should be able to administer common vaccinations that are currently only administered by doctors, according to new research released by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

 

The nationwide poll by YouGov Galaxy found that 64 per cent of Australians support pharmacists administering common vaccines, with greater convenience cited as a benefit by 62 per cent of respondents.

 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) says that legislative changes at the state and territory levels would allow for vaccines against the likes of whooping cough and meningococcal disease, as well as routine travel vaccinations, to be administered by a pharmacist in the same manner as flu vaccination is now accessed without the need for a doctor’s visit or prescription.

 

PSA National President Dr Shane Jackson said, “Pharmacists are highly accessible and ideally placed to take on increased responsibility for vaccination.”

 

Analysis produced for the PSA reveals that since April this year, approximately a quarter of a million Australians have received flu vaccination directly from a pharmacy.

 

“That’s almost 100 flu vaccinations occurring every hour in pharmacies across the country. Clearly, this represents a better protected and subsequently healthier Australia and is evidence enough that enhanced access to vaccination results in strong uptake,” he added.

 

Dr Jackson said that the Tasmanian Government had recently acted to make the meningococcal vaccine available for administration directly from pharmacists and that “this model should now set the vaccination benchmark for other states and territories to follow.”

 

“Our new research confirms that Australians clearly understand that pharmacists have the skill and training to do more than they currently do. Common-sense should see legislative changes that allow pharmacists to administer a number of commonly used vaccines.”

 

The poll of 1,023 Australians also revealed that 60 per cent of Australians believe the cost of a pharmacist administering a vaccine should be covered by Medicare, with a further 24 per cent of the view that private health insurance should cover some of the cost.

 

The PSA is working with federal, state and territory governments and other health stakeholders to ensure the expertise of professional pharmacists is more fully utilised and that pharmacists are better equipped to enhance community access to vital health services.

 

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Media contact:
Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176

Pharmacy World Congress coming to Brisbane in 2021

September 1, 2018

PSA, on behalf of the Australian member organisations of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), is proud to announce Brisbane will host the FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2021.

 

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global body representing pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

 

As the peak national body for all pharmacists, PSA, in collaboration with the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) and the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) won a consortium bid to host the major international event at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

 

PSA National President Dr Shane Jackson said the FIP Congress 2021 will provide a platform to showcase global innovation, including models that support pharmacists practising to their full scope, and the health outcomes that these models have delivered in other countries.

 

“The FIP Congress 2021 is a landmark opportunity to continue to ensure roles, recognition and remuneration for pharmacists in Australia are optimised and comparable with other countries around the world.

 

“PSA is leading the profession by bringing Australian pharmacy practice to the world stage.”

 

PSA will draw on its experience delivering its flagship annual conference PSA18, which this year attracted more than 1,000 delegates and received overwhelmingly positive feedback.

 

Combined, the host organisations represent over 20,000 members across Australia in community and hospital pharmacy, academia and the pharmaceutical sciences.

 

The Consortium’s bid is strongly supported by the two New Zealand FIP member organisations – the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) and the New Zealand Hospital Pharmacists Association (NHPA) – as well as the FIP Western Pacific Pharmaceutical Forum, which will help spread the message to the Asia Pacific region.

-ENDS-

Jarryd Luke
Senior Communications Officer
0487 922 176