Pharmacists and GPs must work together for the best patient outcomes

July 2, 2018

As long as there is a turf war over who delivers patient care, patients will suffer, PSA said today.

 

The RACGP’s attack on pharmacy health checks does not take into account the fact that these services are within a pharmacist’s scope of practice and build on the accessibility of the community pharmacy network.

 

As long as the services are delivered according to the pharmacy profession’s standard for screening and risk assessment, PSA as the peak national body for pharmacists supports the provision of these services within community pharmacy.

 

PSA National President Dr Shane Jackson said, “Countless pharmacies across the country have excellent working relationships with their local GPs.

 

“As readily accessible healthcare professionals, pharmacists are many patients’ first port of call. Pharmacists use health checks to refer patients who are potentially at risk to a GP, when those patients might otherwise avoid or delay doing so.”

 

Dr Jackson said the Coroner’s Findings from the recent inquest into the death of a Victorian patient demonstrated the importance of the relationship between doctors and pharmacists.

 

According to the coroner, “Doctors and pharmacists should trust and respect each other, whilst retaining their independence.

 

“Similarly, whilst pharmacists should respect the doctor-patient relationship, they should not underestimate their own importance in the delivery of health care.”

 

Dr Jackson said, “We cannot afford to ignore this call for GPs and pharmacists to continue building respectful working relationships.

 

“We urge the RACGP to put aside such misdirected professional rivalries and focus on collaborating to improve Australia’s health.”

 

-ENDS-

 

Media contact:           
Jarryd Luke
Communications Officer
0487 922 176