Local pharmacists ready for expanded role

Three Wonthaggi pharmacists have completed extra training to treat a wider range of health conditions, but are waiting for Victorian Government approval before they can offer the full range of services.

Louise and Everett O’Keeffe and colleague Fiona McDougall, from Wonthaggi Pharmacy and Health Hub, have finished the coursework for Monash University’s Graduate Certificate of Pharmacist Prescribing.

But now comes the wait.

Louise said their certificates were expected to be released during October, ahead of the usual March graduation, so they could put their training into practice as soon as government approvals allow them to do so.

The course covered 22 medical conditions, but that doesn’t mean the pharmacists can immediately offer treatments for everything they studied.

“Until the government recognises all 22 conditions, we can’t roll it out, we can’t implement it,” Louise said.

The qualification supports Victoria’s Chemist Care Now Community Pharmacist Program, which allows appropriately trained pharmacists at participating pharmacies to provide certain treatments without patients having to visit a doctor for a prescription first.

Louise said the benefits include getting suitable patients care sooner, especially when a medical appointment might be weeks away.

She pointed to asthma treatment as one example of how the broader prescribing role could help, subject to government approval and an assessment of whether treatment was appropriate.

Subject to government approval, the training would equip pharmacists to prescribe a preventer inhaler, expanding the assistance they could offer beyond supplying a reliever such as Ventolin over the counter.

Other areas covered included anti-nausea medicines for acute nausea and vomiting associated with gastroenteritis or food poisoning, and travel medicines such as malaria prevention.

Louise said the course also covered screening for elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, with treatment accompanied by referral and communication with a patient’s GP.

However, some services are already available.

She said pharmacists could now provide antibiotic treatment for eligible children with impetigo, commonly known as school sores, from two years of age.

But as services expand, customers should expect an interaction more involved than just a quick conversation at the counter.

“So it’s not just a walk-in two-minute chat. It’s a consultation,” Louise said.

“We are taking a full medical history, and we are doing a physical examination if that’s necessary.”

Monash announced that its first cohort included 126 pharmacists who all expect to graduate in October.

Monash said 83 members of the cohort would practise in Victoria, including 26 in regional communities.

The course had a combination of online learning, practical workshops and supervised practice alongside current prescribers.

Everett said the training Monash provided gave him the confidence to expand his skillset.

“The hands-on training and mentorship at Monash, from experienced and knowledgeable lecturers, have given me the confidence to take on this expanded scope of practice, professionally examine, assess and prescribe safely for appropriate patients.”

Louise said the pair looked forward to putting their new skills to work for the community.

“The clinical conditions included in this course have dramatically expanded our knowledge, and we look forward to delivering new services that will provide more timely, safe and accessible healthcare to our regional community,” she said.