1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: More patients could receive accessible and convenient healthcare at their 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: local pharmacy under a bold new plan released by the 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Now it wants to see eighty 4 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: percent of community pharmacies diagnosing and treating patients every day 5 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: and for long term health conditions. Now joining us on 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 1: the line is the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Northern Territory 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: Branch President Peter Hatswell. Good morning to you, Peter, Good 8 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: morning Katie. Lovely to have you on the show. Peter. 9 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: What kind of conditions are we talking about as part 10 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 1: of this Well, it's quite a long term proposal and plan. 11 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 2: Well, yes, it's a ten year plan, but we've got 12 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 2: to start somewhere and certainly the balls already rolling. We've 13 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 2: got lots of pharmacists around Australia already starting the training 14 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: on one of them in the Northern Territory. We've got 15 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: thirty We started off with thirty people in the Northern 16 00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 2: Territory starting training and that's going to continue for the 17 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: rest of this year. But let me just go over 18 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 2: a few things that I mean, we're talking just every 19 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 2: day acute and some chronic conditions at the pharmacists will 20 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 2: be able to deal with. So we've got gas, stro 21 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 2: esophage or reflux disease, so your heartburn rhinis as information 22 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 2: of the of the nas you know, like say sniffles 23 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 2: and things like that. Infections of the year, both behind 24 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 2: the ear drum and on the outside, so nausea, vomiting, 25 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 2: wound management, sorrisis or mono contraception, shingles, school saws, weight management, acne, dermatitis, smoking. 26 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: I won't go crazy here, it's about twenty there's more 27 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: than twenty two conditions. There are everyday things and there 28 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: are things that when if you can go to your 29 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 2: pharmacist to get safe, convenience and accessible primary healthcare, this 30 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: will save you having to wait days or weeks to 31 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: see your regular GP, or even end up in emergency. 32 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: Well and presumably save you know, presumably save a little 33 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: bit of money as well. I mean, I know that 34 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: for more serious things obviously still having to go to 35 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: you'd still be having to go to GP, but you know, 36 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: presuming presumably saving a bit of money. 37 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: Quite possibly the GP. It's you know, getting it's hard 38 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: to see them, but the cost is there. And I'm 39 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 2: not saying that pharmacists will end up being cheap. At 40 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 2: the moment, there's your pharmacist is is not subsidized by 41 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 2: the government, but that could change once we've become a 42 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 2: you know, as an integral part of the healthcare system, 43 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 2: and then then yes, absolutely it will be cheaper. But 44 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 2: you know, more than anything, it's it's it is safe, 45 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 2: of course, and it's that accessibility. You know, pharmacists or 46 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 2: pharmacies are open for long hours as there's. 47 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: Someone there well, and sometimes you've got something that's not 48 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: urgent enough to go to emergency, but potentially urgent enough 49 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: that you sort of need to go in and see 50 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: somebody to get some medication or some assistance. So in 51 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: that sense, you know, I would assume it would be 52 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,079 Speaker 1: a positive as well for patients. 53 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I mean timing for a number of things. Timing 54 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 2: is really important. So a new and attract infection, if 55 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 2: left untreated, can turn into something very serious, could end 56 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 2: up with a kidney infection or even embedded you know 57 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 2: you and retract infection where it just keeps coming back 58 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 2: all the time, and getting that timely treatment at the 59 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: pharmacy is going to make a huge difference to people's life. 60 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: It's just their everyday life and also save so much 61 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: money for the healthcare system if you don't end up 62 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 2: in hospital. Hospital visits are very expensive. 63 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: That's right, Peter, tell me you mentioned there that obviously 64 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: it would see pharmacists have to go go through further training. 65 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: Thirty people currently training in the Northern Territory to expand 66 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: their services right now, is that right? 67 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, there've been a couple of dropouts, but yes, 68 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: there's certainly just a few people weren't able to continue on. 69 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: But I'll probably pick it up next year. There'll be 70 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: quite a few waves of pharmacists. But yes, originally thirty 71 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: people were signed up. I'm one of those. I started 72 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 2: back in March, and I've got a fair bit to go. 73 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: That's certainly it's a daunting, you know, and very demanding 74 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: sort of educational progress, but you know, this is just 75 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 2: the start we're going to. We've got quite a lot 76 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 2: to go, and eventually we will retro fit all those pharmacists. 77 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 2: Was many as want to and we're hoping up to 78 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 2: eighty percent, and then the university courses will change to 79 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 2: include this advancement in scope for pharmacists as standard practice 80 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: for every pharmacist that comes out of university, and so 81 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,280 Speaker 2: that's going to be a great thing for public peter. 82 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: I know some people listening might be sort of questioning 83 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: if diagnosing and treating patients would be left to doctors. 84 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: I mean, what would you say to anybody with those concerns. 85 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 2: Well, the training we're doing is very expensive, and I'm 86 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 2: okay in the firsthand, it's hard work, and as you know, 87 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 2: we are being very careful. We're only dealing with the 88 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 2: simple side of things. So if someone came in with 89 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 2: a un retract infection, we're looking for the simple un 90 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 2: retract infection and we've been very integral. Part of our 91 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 2: training is to make sure that if anything looks a 92 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 2: little bit wrong and that something else might be going on, 93 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 2: then we immediately refer them to the appropriate care. So, look, 94 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 2: the things can be missed, and that's an unfortunate thing, 95 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 2: but it's highly unlikely. I think the training is very 96 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 2: rigorous and really it's very much the same training that 97 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 2: all gps and doctors go through to make sure that 98 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: they're triggering safely. We're doing much the same course and 99 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 2: the whole course is actually with under the supervision every 100 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: single student that goes through is having to team up 101 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: with a designated prescriber, which could be a GP, it 102 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 2: could be a nurse practitioner, it could be someone else 103 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 2: who has had a good experience in diagnosing and prescribing 104 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: and making sure that we don't miss any of those 105 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 2: red flags and so that you know, hundreds of hours 106 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: of that sort of supervised practice to make sure that 107 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: we are safe and that nothing does get missed. You know, 108 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 2: we can in a perfect will, nothing would be but 109 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: I don't think there is a perfect will. No matter 110 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 2: where you get your medical care, there is always a 111 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 2: chance of that. 112 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: And look, it sounds to me like it's more about 113 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: sort of there being an expansion and like an expansion 114 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: to services and making things a bit more easily and 115 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: readily accessible is the aim for people too as part 116 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: of this plan. 117 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's pharmacists are out there. We're just trying to 118 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: you know, it's putting the patients first, making sure that 119 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,239 Speaker 2: patient people who need care, and it's where it sits 120 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 2: within the pharmacists scope, so that we have a very 121 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: clearly defined area that we can treat safely and effectively, 122 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 2: and like you're saying, in a convenient way for the 123 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: patient that they get that care quickly, and it's going 124 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 2: to save the patient time and of because that's so important. 125 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 2: I mean, you imagine the number of down days that 126 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 2: someone would have to take off work because they they're 127 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 2: too ill to go to work and they can't get 128 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 2: in to see, you know, their doctor, and it's just 129 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: not practical to go to the hospital or whatever. So 130 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: there's going to be a huge increase in productivity. 131 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: You know. 132 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 2: Then there's savings on the general practitioner time. They're not 133 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 2: going to have to do a lot of the consults 134 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 2: that would just take up their time, which which pharmacists 135 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 2: will be able to do quite effectively, and so that's 136 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 2: going to free them up to deal with the more 137 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:02,679 Speaker 2: difficult situations that desperately need their help. And the savings 138 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: for the healthcare is huge. They did a modeling. It's 139 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 2: going to five point one billion dollars will be saved 140 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 2: within the healthcare system life while pharmacists can treat all 141 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 2: these things that would otherwise end up in emergency. 142 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: So Peter, obviously towards twenty thirty five, it is, you know, 143 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: it is the industry's ambition for the next ten years 144 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: where to sort of from here, What are the next 145 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: steps from your perspective in order to make sure this 146 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: gets implemented. 147 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 2: I think it's just well, public awareness is important. People 148 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 2: should just shouldn't just think of pharmacy as a place 149 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 2: to get makeup and perfume and pick up a script. 150 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 2: It's a primary healthcare destination, so if they have, you know, 151 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 2: any of those things that that trailer and I mentioned. 152 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 2: There's also continue on a bit smoking cessation, travel health 153 00:08:53,920 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 2: asthma and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, in fact, infections, 154 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: hormonial conserception, and of course we are already doing vaccinations 155 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 2: and every year more and more people are getting their 156 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 2: vaccines in a pharmacy. And once it wasn't that long 157 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 2: ago that we weren't even considered the place to go, 158 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 2: and COVID changed all of that, and I think it's 159 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 2: really just brought home that pharmacists can do so much 160 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 2: more and we should be. It's for everybody's good and 161 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 2: it's for the good of us all Australians. Well. 162 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: Pharmacy Guild of Australia's Northern Territory Branch President Peter Hatswell 163 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: always appreciate your time. Thank you very much for joining 164 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: us on the show this morning. 165 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Katie, and thank you, thanks so much.