The post Hon Amanda Stoker announced as speaker for 2025 Women in Pharmacy Breakfast appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>Assistant Minister Stoker will join more than 150 community pharmacists and pharmacy industry representatives at Victoria Park Ballroom on Wednesday 5 March to address this year’s campaign theme #AccelerateAction.
Chris Owen, President of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland, expressed his pride in hosting this significant event.
“As an industry made up of 70% women, International Women’s Day holds great
importance to The Guild and to the community pharmacy industry as a whole,” says Mr Owen.
“This event provides an opportunity for meaningful conversations and celebrating the
women in our community.
“This will be the fourth year The Queensland Guild has hosted this important event, and we look forward to hearing from our guest speaker, Assistant Minister Stoker.”
With experience across business, law, and government, Assistant Minister Stoker’s presentation will offer key insights on how to Accelerate Action.
Celebrating International Women’s Day and recognising women in the pharmacy industry, attendees can enjoy Assistant Minister Stoker’s insights, a delicious hot breakfast, networking, and a chance to win fabulous lucky door prizes.
Tickets are limited and are selling quickly. For further details and to book, click here.
Text by: The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland.
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]]>The post The Pharmacy Guild of Australia welcomes the free influenza vaccination program for Queenslanders in 2024 appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch congratulates the Queensland Government for extending the free influenza vaccination program to 2024 for all Queenslanders aged 6 months and over. The Guild’s Queensland Branch President, Chris Owen welcomes the Palaszczuk Government’s continued commitment of the free influenza vaccination program and this early announcement will go a long way in increasing the uptake of vaccinations.
“At a time of suboptimal influenza vaccination rates, the 2024 free program will allow all Queenslanders to access this important vaccination at a community pharmacy in the lead up to, and throughout the flu season.
“We would like to thank the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman for her commitment to the program and making this initiative free ensuring there are no cost-of-living barriers for Queenslanders in putting their health first.
“This early commitment means community pharmacists will continue to be prepared to meet the demand of Queenslanders taking up the free service ahead of and during the 2024 flu season.
“Community pharmacists will be given ample time to plan and secure the necessary vaccine stock to meet the anticipated demand.
“The advance notice will also enable Queensland families to plan ahead and visit their local community pharmacy to receive the free vaccine and help reduce the spread of the virus, protecting friends and family most at risk.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with Minister Fentiman on this program to ensure a seamless and effective implementation, providing access to free influenza vaccinations for all Queenslanders,” says Mr Owen.
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]]>The post Qld welcomes new Minister for Health and Ambulance Services appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch President Chris Owen warmly welcomes Minister Fentiman to the new role, while also thanking the outgoing Minister Yvette D’Ath for her professionalism and determination in advancing healthcare solutions for patients.
Mr Owen says since her appointment in November 2020, Minister D’Arth has been a diligent Minister who understood the complex nature of the Health portfolio and strode to put patients first, while also embarking on a number of monumental healthcare changes.
“I’d like to thank outgoing Minister D’Ath, and the Queensland Government, for their ongoing support in making treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) a permanent healthcare service for women in Queensland in October 2022,” says Mr Owen.
“With other states closely following Queensland’s lead, women can safely access critical healthcare services such as timely treatment for an uncomplicated UTI from their community pharmacist.
“We sincerely thank Minister D’Ath for remaining firm in her position of putting patients first and staring down the powerful doctor lobby groups who were constantly and ambitiously attempting to derail and undermine the pilot.
“Minister D’Ath remained steadfast and in October 2022, the Premier and Health Minister announced the implementation of the North Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot.
“Premier Palaszczuk and Minister D’Ath demonstrated great foresight and a true commitment to delivering better health services through this announcement.
“Enhancing patient care and increasing access to world-class healthcare services under the Pilot is one solution to help reduce unnecessary emergency department presentations.
“Today in North Queensland, hundreds of pharmacists are currently undergoing higher education and training under the community pharmacy scope of practice pilot, which will give patients in the north greater access to safe treatment and healthcare services for everyday health conditions from early 2024.
“On behalf of Guild members across Queensland, we welcome the appointment of Minister Fentiman to the role and we look forward to continuing to work towards a modernised public health system in the best interests of patients.
“We are committed to working with Minister Fentiman on a number of important matters including pathways for career progression for pharmacists, pharmacy business ownership rules, and expanding the opportunity for more community pharmacists across the state to practise to their full scope, to ease the burden on GPs and overstretched hospital emergency departments,” he says.
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]]>The post University course begins for Scope of Practice Pilot appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>“The response to the enrolment process itself has been incredible. Places for the first cohort were filled in less than a week with 175 eligible pharmacists starting their journey today [27 March],” Chris Owen, Queensland Branch President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, said.
“With the second cohort allocation close to reaching capacity, this Pilot is set to modernise primary healthcare by giving patients greater accessibility to seek treatment for everyday common conditions, which will remove unnecessary wait times to see GPs or patients presenting to an emergency department.”
Under the guidance of the Queensland University of Technology, James Cook University and the Australasian College of Pharmacy, two cohorts of pharmacists will undertake graduate certificate-level, evidenced-based training, which is currently used in other Australian non-medical prescribing pathways.
The second cohort will begin training through James Cook University on 3 July 2023, with the first occasion of service expected to be delivered in North Queensland by the trained group of cohort 1 at the end of 2023.
The Pilot will allow community pharmacists in North Queensland to prescribe medicines for common conditions such as:
As part of the Pilot, community pharmacists will be able to provide health and well-being services including:
It will also let pharmacists prescribe medicines as part of structured chronic disease management programs such as cardiovascular disease risk reduction, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“I’m so proud that the first independent prescriber in Australia will come out of North Queensland. It is a testament to the hundreds of committed community pharmacy professionals ready to embrace working to their full scope of practice,” Mr Owen said.
Mr Owen goes explained that the Pilot framework will continue to ensure meaningful collaboration between a patient, their pharmacist and their GP through active communication and referrals, meaning patients will have more options for getting timely access to treatment.
“If a patient can receive healthcare in a timely manner from their local community pharmacist, this may prevent them from waiting weeks to see their GP or presenting to the emergency department,” Mr Owen said.
“This will also support GPs by having greater capacity to have appointments, available to see their patients with more complex needs, including longer consultations.
“At the end of the year patients will be able to receive treatment by trained community pharmacists in a safe and private consultation room when they need it,” he said.
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]]>The post Pharmacy Guild responds to AMAQ pharmacy scope comments appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>AMAQ President Dr Maria Boulton said moves by state governments to downgrade the role of GPs and other medical specialists in treating conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) are dangerous.
“Patients will be at risk if this goes ahead. This is about governments caving into big political donors and ignoring patient safety,” Dr Boulton said.
In a statement released this week, the Queensland Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia said the AMAQ has made misleading comments about the North Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot, the non-complex Urinary Tract Infection Pilot – Queensland (UTIPP-Q) – now a permanent UTI health service in Queensland.
“Firstly, I congratulate the NSW Government for joining Queensland on the journey to pharmacist full scope of practice,” Queensland Branch President, Chris Owen said.
“It is disappointing … that the AMAQ uses this positive announcement to fabricate information and misinform patients across both Queensland and New South Wales,” he said.
Mr Owen says “pharmacists are not replacing general practitioners … but are working collaboratively as primary healthcare professionals for the betterment of patients” and that community pharmacists have and will continue to undertake significant professional development in order to practise to full scope.
“Community pharmacists have undertaken a four-year accredited university degree, a one-year internship, two registration exams as well as maintain annual professional development,” Mr Owen said.
“Education and training for pharmacists to provide health services within the UTIPP-Q and North Queensland Pharmacy Pilot is in addition to the years of training and on-the-job clinical experience as a community pharmacist.
“Pharmacists taking part in the North Queensland Pharmacy Pilot are required to undergo further post-graduate level training over a 12-month period, which includes supervised practice hours and a structured clinical exam – not the few hours per week as concocted by AMAQ,” he said.
Speaking about the review of the UTIPP-Q, Mr Owen said that while the “AMAQ continues to reference their discredited survey as ‘evidence’ against Queensland community pharmacists providing the UTI health service and practising to their full scope … all formal sources report the success of the UTIPP-Q service”.
“The independent outcome report and the Queensland Government found the UTIPP-Q was of significant value because of improved accessibility to primary healthcare services and, as a result, the UTI health service was implemented as a permanent pharmacy service,” Mr Owen said.
“Over 6500 Queensland women accessed the UTI health service during the UTIPP-Q and 87% of patients reported resolution of UTI symptoms following the antibiotic treatment prescribed by their local community pharmacist.
“Almost 1000 emergency department presentations were prevented by having the UTI service available through Queensland community pharmacies,” he said.
Mr Owen called on peak health bodies to work together to ensure patients have access to healthcare.
“With state-wide headlines in the past week reporting on Queenslanders’ inability to find a bulk-billing GP, it is time …[to] work together to ensure Queenslanders have access to much-needed primary healthcare services,” Mr Owen said.
“The North Queensland Pharmacy Pilot is one solution amongst many to begin reforming public healthcare services in Queensland and improve access to GPs, decrease ambulance ramping and reduce emergency department presentations,” he said.
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]]>The post PA Conference a success appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>“It is a fantastic feeling to have successfully held the PA Conference after two years of postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic,” Chris Owen, President of the Pharmacy Guild’s Queensland Branch said.
Pharmacy assistants had the opportunity to attend more than 20 educational sessions across the two days, with the Pre-Conference QCPP Refresher Training Workshop well-attended and a highlight being the Last Man Standing presented by Olympian Steven Bradbury OAM.
The sold-out trade exhibition was a hive of activity with a range of exhibitors showcasing brand-new products in community pharmacies and engaging with pharmacy assistants about the latest innovations in pharmacy goods.
A key highlight of the PA Conference is the announcement of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia/Maxigesic 2022 Pharmacy Assistant of the Year (PATY) winner.
Congratulations to Terri Bakker as 2022 Pharmacy Assistant of the Year and Bianca Busby as the Glucojel Super Star.
The black and white themed Conference Dinner wrapped up the event with a three-course meal, drinks, and dancing to the live covers band.
“Thank you to everyone that attended and supported the 2022 PA Conference! We look forward to bringing pharmacy assistants an educational, networking, and social experience again in 2023,” Mr Owen said.
Anyone that missed out on attending the PA Conference is encouraged to attend the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference and Trade Exhibition (APP2023) on the Gold Coast on 23-26 March 2023. Early bird registration is now open: appconference.com.
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]]>The post Celebrating Qld community pharmacists appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>Hosted by the Queensland Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the event was attended by all sides of politics, including Deputy Premier Hon. Steven Miles MP, Minister for Health for Health and Ambulance Services, Hon. Yvette D’Ath MP, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli MP and Katter Australia Party leader, Robbie Katter MP.
Along with recognising the contribution that Queensland community pharmacists have made across the state, particularly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Queensland Branch President, Chris Owen says another highlight was presenting the President Awards to individuals and pharmacies who have been standouts over the past 12 months.
“The major accomplishment of the year is the safe and successful UTI Pilot, now a permanent health service in Queensland community pharmacies, which is a big win for women delivered by the Palaszczuk Labor Government,” Mr Owen said.
“This decision by the government means that Queensland women will no longer have to wait for weeks or go to the emergency department for treatment because they can’t get in to see a GP.
“The success of the UTI Pilot is a great start in the journey of community pharmacists practising to their full scope.
“Importantly for patients, all sides of politics reiterated their support for the North Queensland Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot, giving patients the comfort of knowing that greater access to primary healthcare services is just around the corner,” he said.
Mr Owen paid tribute to Tina Scrine, Luise Fitton, and five Queensland community pharmacies who were recipients of the prestigious Queensland Branch President’s Award.
The Award is the highest honour that The Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Queensland Branch President can bestow and is designed to recognise outstanding achievements and exceptional individuals for their contribution to community pharmacy.
“Tina Scrine is the Industrial Relations Manager at the Queensland Branch and has dedicated 20 years of service to the Guild and community pharmacy by providing advice and guidance to members with regard to industrial relations.
“Tina has adopted the true spirit of a membership organisation. Her infectious determination and passion for our members are second to none. This support, especially in the constantly changing environment of the Covid-19 pandemic during the past 2.5 years, has been vital to our members,” Mr Owen said.
Mr Owen continued: “Luise Fitton is a pharmacist and pharmacy manager at TerryWhite Chemmart Brookside. Luise went above and beyond for patients and pharmacy staff and exemplified service at a local level during the Covid-19 vaccination rollout.
“She ensured patient’s needs were met, helped coordinate vaccine supply between different pharmacies and kept the Queensland Branch informed about vaccine stocks,” he said.
Mr Owen singled out five community pharmacies that administered the highest number of Covid-19 vaccination to patients across Queensland.
“While every community pharmacy taking part in the Covid-19 vaccination rollout played an important role in protecting Queenslanders, these five pharmacies, in particular, stood out,” Mr Owen said.
Three 50-year life members were also recognised on the night by Mr Owen for their commitment to the community pharmacy and the Queensland Branch.
“Once again, community pharmacy has demonstrated pharmacists’ important role within the primary healthcare network.
“This is true not only in how community pharmacy takes the pressure off the overburdened emergency departments but also as we are increasingly becoming the most accessible option for patients in accessing their health care needs,” Mr Owen said.
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]]>The post Eligible job seekers encouraged to consider becoming pharmacy assistants appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>Eligible job seekers in and around Brisbane and Toowoomba can become qualified pharmacy assistants via the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work Initiative and work in Queensland’s network of almost 1200 community pharmacies.
“We are very excited to give people a chance to participate in this program and begin a new career path in community pharmacy,” says Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch President, Chris Owen.
The Fundamentals of Community Pharmacy course is fully subsidised for eligible participants and course graduates enjoy the high prospect of employment in their new field, with participants from the previous cohorts benefiting from an 86% employment outcome.
Following the delivery of 10 intakes of Skilling Queenslanders for Work funded courses throughout 2022, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch, will deliver courses in Brisbane and Toowoomba commencing on 17 October 2022.
Upon successfully completing the course, participants will receive a SIR20116 Certificate II in Community Pharmacy and gain the skills and knowledge required to meet the needs of community pharmacy customers and patients.
The next cohort is from 17 October 2022 to 2 December 2022. The course is a seven-week, Covid-Safe, face-to-face course, which incorporates 10-days of vocational placement in a community pharmacy where participants can put their learning into action and gain practical experience.
For more information, visit: guild.org.au/guild-branches/qld/training/training-courses/certificate-ii-in-community-pharmacy/funded-cert-ii
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]]>The post UTI training available for Queensland pharmacies appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>Thanking the Palaszczuk Labor Government, Mr Owen says that “important advancements in healthcare don’t come around by accident”.
“It takes detailed planning, robust evaluation and safety frameworks and courage on behalf of Ministers and Governments to implement,” Mr Owen said.
“The Government should be applauded for their efforts to systematically reform health services in Queensland to give patients great choice and access to world-class services. Community Pharmacists are proud to be at the forefront of advances in women’s health.”
Commencing on 1 October 2022, women in Queensland are now able to access the pharmacy UTI health services permanently.
“This means women won’t have to suffer the painful symptoms of a UTI while waiting for a doctor’s appointment or visiting an emergency department,” Mr Owen said.
“We know from experience the sooner a UTI is diagnosed and treated, the less likely the patient is to experience further complications that may result in hospitalisation.
“It’s now time for other Australian states and territories to follow the leadership shown by the Palaszczuk Labor Government in recognising the scope of community pharmacists and providing the same UTI service for women across Australia,” he said.
Mr Owen says that the UTI pharmacy services are being offered in line with what’s happening in other OECD countries, including England, Wales, New Zealand and Canada.
“There is more that community pharmacists can do to diagnose and treat everyday health conditions, taking pressure off doctor appointments and emergency departments,” he said.
To support this advancement in community pharmacists’ scope of practice, the Australasian College of Pharmacy (College) is offering Queensland community pharmacists free accredited UTI training and resources through the month of October.
“Our aim is to ensure community pharmacists have access to the latest industry information,” Michelle Bou-Samra, College President, said.
Ms Bou-Samra says that pharmacists who participated in the initial UTI Pilot and who undertook mandatory training as part of that process will receive refresher training and resources “in due course”.
“Queensland community pharmacists who did not participate in the Pilot can now undertake the mandatory training through the College and commence providing this much-needed UTI health service to women in Queensland in accordance with the Extended Practice Authority,” Ms Bou-Samra said.
“The complimentary offer for the mandatory training is expected to increase the 820 community pharmacies currently providing the UTI health service, especially in regional and remote locations where community pharmacies may be the only primary healthcare destination available for patients.
“We hope that the provision of UTI services by community pharmacists expands across Australia, as it is a clear example that community pharmacists can and should provide more primary healthcare services for patients.
“As community pharmacists move towards practising to their full scope, the College will be at the forefront of the education and training required for community pharmacists to competently provide more primary healthcare services for patients,” she said.
Queensland pharmacists are encouraged to enrol in the training before Tuesday 1 November when the complimentary offer will cease.
Visit acp.edu.au to learn more about the UTI service and College training.
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]]>The post Qld community pharmacies continue to excel in Covid vax delivery appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.
]]>Queensland Branch President Chris Owen says that this is good news and reflects the community demand for accessing Covid vaccinations through community pharmacies. He says that Covid vaccine stock levels “are level with demand”, improving access to the vaccinations.
With Covid-19 far from over, Mr Owen continues to urge communities to have their boosters and to stay up-to-date with their vaccinations.
For those considering getting their vaccinations through community pharmacies, Mr Owen reassures that this can be done with confidence as all community pharmacy vaccinators continue to undergo specific training related to vaccine administration.
“Covid-19 vaccinations delivered in pharmacies are administered by highly-trained and qualified vaccinators who have to attain a current first aid and CPR certificate as well as accreditation in anaphylaxis management,” says Mr Owen.
“I would encourage anyone who hasn’t had their third or fourth boosters to visit findapharmacy.com.au/our-services/vaccination-services-covid-19 or come into their community pharmacy to get vaccinated,” he says.
While there have been reports of issues with stock levels of antiviral medications, Mr Owen says that oral antiviral stocks are continuing to increase and community members looking for antiviral medication can do so by searching for availability at their closest community pharmacy here: findapharmacy.com.au/home/oral-treatments.
“There have been quite a few reports that there’s a lack of antiviral medication, especially in regional areas,” says Mr Owen.
“While demand was outpacing supply a week ago, we’re seeing more stock in community pharmacies now.
“We encourage anyone requiring oral antiviral medication to avoid going to the pharmacy yourself to pick up the medication and instead ask a friend or family member to help. Some pharmacies may also be able to offer assistance in getting the medication to you as soon as possible.
Anyone interested in accessing these medications can search via our website at findapharmacy.com.au/home/oral-treatments or simply call your local community pharmacy to find out what options are available to you,” he says.
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