Hotels for pharmacists welcomed by NSW Guild

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia – NSW Branch, has today welcomed the news from the Berejiklian Government and the NSW Department of Health that frontline healthcare workers, including pharmacists, will have access to accommodation to help keep a safe distance from at-risk family members.

“Healthcare workers like pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, paramedics and nurses have been on the frontline, face-to-face with their patients, spearheading the fight against COVID-19,” said President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia – NSW Branch, David Heffernan.

“It’s fantastic to see the hotel industry offer accommodation to healthcare workers, who can’t go home out of fear of spreading this virus to their families.”

“Equally, the Berejiklian Government and the NSW Department of Health should be congratulated for taking accommodation providers up on their offer to help the professionals who care for us, care for their families,” said Mr Heffernan.

This initiative was prompted by social media requests from healthcare professionals seeking alternative accommodation to keep their families safe.

To support frontline healthcare workers, the NSW Department of Health is now keeping a register of offers by the hotel industry, including home-sharing platform Airbnb, to help make it easier to book rooms for those working around the clock to keep their communities safe.

“Pharmacists have been on the frontline since the COVID-19 crisis began, and we will be here until the end. In doing their job, pharmacists have been abused, punched, spat on, and even had medicine bottles thrown at them by a tiny minority of patients,” said Mr Heffernan.

“Community pharmacists have been working tirelessly to make sure people can get their medicine, their flu shots, and that our communities are generally well cared for.

“It’s welcome news that the State government has stepped up and recognised the contribution being made by community pharmacists to the fight against COVID-19,” said Mr Heffernan.

Western Australia has already seen some healthcare professionals housed in hotel accommodation.