Miles Labor Government commits to making pharmacy pilots permanent, if elected this month.
Both Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot and Community Pharmacy Hormonal Contraception Pilot would be made permanent to improve access to healthcare.
In comparison, the LNP have repeatedly failed to support the expansion of our Pharmacy Scope of Practice pilots.
Queenslanders will easier access to over-the-counter treatment and medications if the Miles Labor Government is elected this month.
Premier Steven Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman have today committed to making both the Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot and Community Pharmacy Hormonal Contraception Pilot permanent.
The move would bring Queensland in line with other states and territories.
The model involves pharmacists engaging in extra clinical training to unlock their full potential and safely manage the scope of the Pilot.
It helps to address the impacts of workforce shortages and distribution problems, particularly in regional and rural communities.
$6 million has already been invested by the Miles Labor Government to subsidise the cost of training for pharmacists seeking to participate in the Pilots.
Already both Pilots have been expanded state-wide following positive feedback from trials, with more than 530 Queenslanders benefiting from the increased access to healthcare.
The Miles Labor Government is committed to ensuring that Queenslanders can access high-quality healthcare services close to home.
The quality and safety frameworks for the pilots were co-designed with consumers and key GP and pharmacy stakeholders as part of an advisory group that continues to provide oversight.
The Pilots are designed to supplement, not replace, existing services and provide Queenslanders with more choice in accessing primary healthcare services.
They are an innovative way to ensure Queenslanders have more options to access quality healthcare – particularly in a state as decentralised as Queensland.
Our pharmacists are highly trained and regulated health professionals – it just makes sense that they use their expertise to its full scope in order to deliver cheaper, more accessible healthcare to Queenslanders.
But that sense is lost on the LNP, who have repeatedly failed to support our Pharmacy Scope of Practice.
We know these Pilots mean a lot particularly to women, who can access the contraceptive pill and medication for a UTI. This pilot is an innovative way to ease pressure on our hospital system by ensuring Queenslanders have more options to access quality healthcare – particularly in a state as decentralised as Queensland.
This model of care also helps to address the impacts of workforce shortages and distribution problems, particularly in regional and rural communities.
Unlike the LNP, the Miles Labor Government is putting innovative solution and money on the table so that Queensland families don’t have to.
Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:
“There’s no silver bullet for relieving pressure on our hospitals.
“That’s why I’m investing in innovative solutions across the entire health system.
“These scope of practice pilots have proven to be incredibly successful in reducing the need for GPs to be kept busy with simple scripts, like treatment for UTIs and the pill.
“Having more options for healthcare means that as our population grows, Queenslanders have choice and accessibility in how they manage their care.
“I want to thank our Pilot pharmacies for their work in pioneering this nation-leading trial here in Queensland – it’s because of you that we can make this announcement today.”
Quotes attributable to Health Minister Shannon Fentiman:
“We know we need to make it easier for Queensland women and girls to access the essential healthcare they need, which is why I’m so excited that we will make this permanent.
“This program is all about our commitment to bringing world class healthcare closer to home, especially for those living in regional and remote areas of Queensland.
“Our pharmacists are highly trained health professionals, and it just makes sense that they use their expertise to their full capacity to help provide cheaper, more accessible healthcare to Queenslanders.
“This program is just one we’re also helping to ease pressure on our busy hospital system by ensuring Queenslanders have more options to access quality healthcare.
“This is all at risk under the LNP who we know are secretly planning to cut beds, cut health workers, and cut programs like this which are helping deliver healthcare for Queenslanders.”
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