Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
More patients could receive accessible and convenient healthcare at their
local pharmacy under a bold new plan released by the
Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Now it wants to see eighty
percent of community pharmacies diagnosing and treating patients every day
and for long term health conditions. Now joining us on
the line is the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Northern Territory
(00:23):
Branch President Peter Hatswell. Good morning to you, Peter, Good
morning Katie. Lovely to have you on the show. Peter.
What kind of conditions are we talking about as part
of this Well, it's quite a long term proposal and plan.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Well, yes, it's a ten year plan, but we've got
to start somewhere and certainly the balls already rolling. We've
got lots of pharmacists around Australia already starting the training
on one of them in the Northern Territory. We've got
thirty We started off with thirty people in the Northern
Territory starting training and that's going to continue for the
(01:00):
rest of this year. But let me just go over
a few things that I mean, we're talking just every
day acute and some chronic conditions at the pharmacists will
be able to deal with. So we've got gas, stro
esophage or reflux disease, so your heartburn rhinis as information
(01:20):
of the of the nas you know, like say sniffles
and things like that. Infections of the year, both behind
the ear drum and on the outside, so nausea, vomiting,
wound management, sorrisis or mono contraception, shingles, school saws, weight management, acne, dermatitis, smoking.
(01:41):
I won't go crazy here, it's about twenty there's more
than twenty two conditions. There are everyday things and there
are things that when if you can go to your
pharmacist to get safe, convenience and accessible primary healthcare, this
will save you having to wait days or weeks to
see your regular GP, or even end up in emergency.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Well and presumably save you know, presumably save a little
bit of money as well. I mean, I know that
for more serious things obviously still having to go to
you'd still be having to go to GP, but you know,
presuming presumably saving a bit of money.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Quite possibly the GP. It's you know, getting it's hard
to see them, but the cost is there. And I'm
not saying that pharmacists will end up being cheap. At
the moment, there's your pharmacist is is not subsidized by
the government, but that could change once we've become a
you know, as an integral part of the healthcare system,
(02:41):
and then then yes, absolutely it will be cheaper. But
you know, more than anything, it's it's it is safe,
of course, and it's that accessibility. You know, pharmacists or
pharmacies are open for long hours as there's.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Someone there well, and sometimes you've got something that's not
urgent enough to go to emergency, but potentially urgent enough
that you sort of need to go in and see
somebody to get some medication or some assistance. So in
that sense, you know, I would assume it would be
a positive as well for patients.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Absolutely. I mean timing for a number of things. Timing
is really important. So a new and attract infection, if
left untreated, can turn into something very serious, could end
up with a kidney infection or even embedded you know
you and retract infection where it just keeps coming back
all the time, and getting that timely treatment at the
(03:34):
pharmacy is going to make a huge difference to people's life.
It's just their everyday life and also save so much
money for the healthcare system if you don't end up
in hospital. Hospital visits are very expensive.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
That's right, Peter, tell me you mentioned there that obviously
it would see pharmacists have to go go through further training.
Thirty people currently training in the Northern Territory to expand
their services right now, is that right?
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, well, there've been a couple of dropouts, but yes,
there's certainly just a few people weren't able to continue on.
But I'll probably pick it up next year. There'll be
quite a few waves of pharmacists. But yes, originally thirty
people were signed up. I'm one of those. I started
back in March, and I've got a fair bit to go.
That's certainly it's a daunting, you know, and very demanding
(04:27):
sort of educational progress, but you know, this is just
the start we're going to. We've got quite a lot
to go, and eventually we will retro fit all those pharmacists.
Was many as want to and we're hoping up to
eighty percent, and then the university courses will change to
include this advancement in scope for pharmacists as standard practice
(04:49):
for every pharmacist that comes out of university, and so
that's going to be a great thing for public peter.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I know some people listening might be sort of questioning
if diagnosing and treating patients would be left to doctors.
I mean, what would you say to anybody with those concerns.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Well, the training we're doing is very expensive, and I'm
okay in the firsthand, it's hard work, and as you know,
we are being very careful. We're only dealing with the
simple side of things. So if someone came in with
a un retract infection, we're looking for the simple un
retract infection and we've been very integral. Part of our
(05:27):
training is to make sure that if anything looks a
little bit wrong and that something else might be going on,
then we immediately refer them to the appropriate care. So, look,
the things can be missed, and that's an unfortunate thing,
but it's highly unlikely. I think the training is very
rigorous and really it's very much the same training that
(05:48):
all gps and doctors go through to make sure that
they're triggering safely. We're doing much the same course and
the whole course is actually with under the supervision every
single student that goes through is having to team up
with a designated prescriber, which could be a GP, it
could be a nurse practitioner, it could be someone else
who has had a good experience in diagnosing and prescribing
(06:11):
and making sure that we don't miss any of those
red flags and so that you know, hundreds of hours
of that sort of supervised practice to make sure that
we are safe and that nothing does get missed. You know,
we can in a perfect will, nothing would be but
(06:32):
I don't think there is a perfect will. No matter
where you get your medical care, there is always a
chance of that.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
And look, it sounds to me like it's more about
sort of there being an expansion and like an expansion
to services and making things a bit more easily and
readily accessible is the aim for people too as part
of this plan.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Absolutely, it's pharmacists are out there. We're just trying to
you know, it's putting the patients first, making sure that
patient people who need care, and it's where it sits
within the pharmacists scope, so that we have a very
clearly defined area that we can treat safely and effectively,
and like you're saying, in a convenient way for the
(07:15):
patient that they get that care quickly, and it's going
to save the patient time and of because that's so important.
I mean, you imagine the number of down days that
someone would have to take off work because they they're
too ill to go to work and they can't get
in to see, you know, their doctor, and it's just
(07:36):
not practical to go to the hospital or whatever. So
there's going to be a huge increase in productivity.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
You know.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Then there's savings on the general practitioner time. They're not
going to have to do a lot of the consults
that would just take up their time, which which pharmacists
will be able to do quite effectively, and so that's
going to free them up to deal with the more
difficult situations that desperately need their help. And the savings
(08:02):
for the healthcare is huge. They did a modeling. It's
going to five point one billion dollars will be saved
within the healthcare system life while pharmacists can treat all
these things that would otherwise end up in emergency.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
So Peter, obviously towards twenty thirty five, it is, you know,
it is the industry's ambition for the next ten years
where to sort of from here, What are the next
steps from your perspective in order to make sure this
gets implemented.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I think it's just well, public awareness is important. People
should just shouldn't just think of pharmacy as a place
to get makeup and perfume and pick up a script.
It's a primary healthcare destination, so if they have, you know,
any of those things that that trailer and I mentioned.
There's also continue on a bit smoking cessation, travel health
(08:53):
asthma and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, in fact, infections,
hormonial conserception, and of course we are already doing vaccinations
and every year more and more people are getting their
vaccines in a pharmacy. And once it wasn't that long
ago that we weren't even considered the place to go,
(09:14):
and COVID changed all of that, and I think it's
really just brought home that pharmacists can do so much
more and we should be. It's for everybody's good and
it's for the good of us all Australians. Well.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Northern Territory Branch President Peter Hatswell
always appreciate your time. Thank you very much for joining
us on the show this morning.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Thank you so much, Katie, and thank you, thanks so much.
More patients could receive accessible and convenient healthcare at their
local pharmacy under a bold new plan released by the
Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Now it wants to see eighty
percent of community pharmacies diagnosing and treating patients every day
and for long term health conditions. Now joining us on
the line is the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Northern Territory
(00:23):
Branch President Peter Hatswell. Good morning to you, Peter, Good
morning Katie. Lovely to have you on the show. Peter.
What kind of conditions are we talking about as part
of this Well, it's quite a long term proposal and plan.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Well, yes, it's a ten year plan, but we've got
to start somewhere and certainly the balls already rolling. We've
got lots of pharmacists around Australia already starting the training
on one of them in the Northern Territory. We've got
thirty We started off with thirty people in the Northern
Territory starting training and that's going to continue for the
(01:00):
rest of this year. But let me just go over
a few things that I mean, we're talking just every
day acute and some chronic conditions at the pharmacists will
be able to deal with. So we've got gas, stro
esophage or reflux disease, so your heartburn rhinis as information
(01:20):
of the of the nas you know, like say sniffles
and things like that. Infections of the year, both behind
the ear drum and on the outside, so nausea, vomiting,
wound management, sorrisis or mono contraception, shingles, school saws, weight management, acne, dermatitis, smoking.
(01:41):
I won't go crazy here, it's about twenty there's more
than twenty two conditions. There are everyday things and there
are things that when if you can go to your
pharmacist to get safe, convenience and accessible primary healthcare, this
will save you having to wait days or weeks to
see your regular GP, or even end up in emergency.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Well and presumably save you know, presumably save a little
bit of money as well. I mean, I know that
for more serious things obviously still having to go to
you'd still be having to go to GP, but you know,
presuming presumably saving a bit of money.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Quite possibly the GP. It's you know, getting it's hard
to see them, but the cost is there. And I'm
not saying that pharmacists will end up being cheap. At
the moment, there's your pharmacist is is not subsidized by
the government, but that could change once we've become a
you know, as an integral part of the healthcare system,
(02:41):
and then then yes, absolutely it will be cheaper. But
you know, more than anything, it's it's it is safe,
of course, and it's that accessibility. You know, pharmacists or
pharmacies are open for long hours as there's.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Someone there well, and sometimes you've got something that's not
urgent enough to go to emergency, but potentially urgent enough
that you sort of need to go in and see
somebody to get some medication or some assistance. So in
that sense, you know, I would assume it would be
a positive as well for patients.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Absolutely. I mean timing for a number of things. Timing
is really important. So a new and attract infection, if
left untreated, can turn into something very serious, could end
up with a kidney infection or even embedded you know
you and retract infection where it just keeps coming back
all the time, and getting that timely treatment at the
(03:34):
pharmacy is going to make a huge difference to people's life.
It's just their everyday life and also save so much
money for the healthcare system if you don't end up
in hospital. Hospital visits are very expensive.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
That's right, Peter, tell me you mentioned there that obviously
it would see pharmacists have to go go through further training.
Thirty people currently training in the Northern Territory to expand
their services right now, is that right?
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, well, there've been a couple of dropouts, but yes,
there's certainly just a few people weren't able to continue on.
But I'll probably pick it up next year. There'll be
quite a few waves of pharmacists. But yes, originally thirty
people were signed up. I'm one of those. I started
back in March, and I've got a fair bit to go.
That's certainly it's a daunting, you know, and very demanding
(04:27):
sort of educational progress, but you know, this is just
the start we're going to. We've got quite a lot
to go, and eventually we will retro fit all those pharmacists.
Was many as want to and we're hoping up to
eighty percent, and then the university courses will change to
include this advancement in scope for pharmacists as standard practice
(04:49):
for every pharmacist that comes out of university, and so
that's going to be a great thing for public peter.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I know some people listening might be sort of questioning
if diagnosing and treating patients would be left to doctors.
I mean, what would you say to anybody with those concerns.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Well, the training we're doing is very expensive, and I'm
okay in the firsthand, it's hard work, and as you know,
we are being very careful. We're only dealing with the
simple side of things. So if someone came in with
a un retract infection, we're looking for the simple un
retract infection and we've been very integral. Part of our
(05:27):
training is to make sure that if anything looks a
little bit wrong and that something else might be going on,
then we immediately refer them to the appropriate care. So, look,
the things can be missed, and that's an unfortunate thing,
but it's highly unlikely. I think the training is very
rigorous and really it's very much the same training that
(05:48):
all gps and doctors go through to make sure that
they're triggering safely. We're doing much the same course and
the whole course is actually with under the supervision every
single student that goes through is having to team up
with a designated prescriber, which could be a GP, it
could be a nurse practitioner, it could be someone else
who has had a good experience in diagnosing and prescribing
(06:11):
and making sure that we don't miss any of those
red flags and so that you know, hundreds of hours
of that sort of supervised practice to make sure that
we are safe and that nothing does get missed. You know,
we can in a perfect will, nothing would be but
(06:32):
I don't think there is a perfect will. No matter
where you get your medical care, there is always a
chance of that.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
And look, it sounds to me like it's more about
sort of there being an expansion and like an expansion
to services and making things a bit more easily and
readily accessible is the aim for people too as part
of this plan.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Absolutely, it's pharmacists are out there. We're just trying to
you know, it's putting the patients first, making sure that
patient people who need care, and it's where it sits
within the pharmacists scope, so that we have a very
clearly defined area that we can treat safely and effectively,
and like you're saying, in a convenient way for the
(07:15):
patient that they get that care quickly, and it's going
to save the patient time and of because that's so important.
I mean, you imagine the number of down days that
someone would have to take off work because they they're
too ill to go to work and they can't get
in to see, you know, their doctor, and it's just
(07:36):
not practical to go to the hospital or whatever. So
there's going to be a huge increase in productivity.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
You know.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Then there's savings on the general practitioner time. They're not
going to have to do a lot of the consults
that would just take up their time, which which pharmacists
will be able to do quite effectively, and so that's
going to free them up to deal with the more
difficult situations that desperately need their help. And the savings
(08:02):
for the healthcare is huge. They did a modeling. It's
going to five point one billion dollars will be saved
within the healthcare system life while pharmacists can treat all
these things that would otherwise end up in emergency.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
So Peter, obviously towards twenty thirty five, it is, you know,
it is the industry's ambition for the next ten years
where to sort of from here, What are the next
steps from your perspective in order to make sure this
gets implemented.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I think it's just well, public awareness is important. People
should just shouldn't just think of pharmacy as a place
to get makeup and perfume and pick up a script.
It's a primary healthcare destination, so if they have, you know,
any of those things that that trailer and I mentioned.
There's also continue on a bit smoking cessation, travel health
(08:53):
asthma and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, in fact, infections,
hormonial conserception, and of course we are already doing vaccinations
and every year more and more people are getting their
vaccines in a pharmacy. And once it wasn't that long
ago that we weren't even considered the place to go,
(09:14):
and COVID changed all of that, and I think it's
really just brought home that pharmacists can do so much
more and we should be. It's for everybody's good and
it's for the good of us all Australians. Well.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Northern Territory Branch President Peter Hatswell
always appreciate your time. Thank you very much for joining
us on the show this morning.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Thank you so much, Katie, and thank you, thanks so much.
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