The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland, Branch President Professor Trent Twomey said the trial follows the recommendations from the 2018 Parliamentary Inquiry into the establishment of a pharmacy council and transfer of pharmacy ownership in Queensland.
“In 2018 there were more than 20,000 potentially preventable hospitalisations in Queensland due to urinary tract infections and kidney infections1.”
“One in two women will experience a urinary tract infection in their lifetime2 and nearly one in three women will have a urinary tract infection needing treatment before the age of 243. If left untreated, a urinary tract infection can become a kidney infection, so it’s important to seek treatment as early as possible.”
“This trial will help to support Queensland women by providing convenient, appropriate, safe and effective treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections,” Professor Twomey said.
PSA Queensland Branch President Chris Campbell said the quality and skill of pharmacists in Queensland has been clearly demonstrated and supported by the Department of Health with this pilot.
“We know Queensland pharmacists are some of the best trained and accessible health care professionals in the world, and this brings access to Queenslanders a service already successful in other countries,” he said.
“We have seen the Queensland Government continually realise the value pharmacists deliver in primary care and although we have seen improved access to care from community pharmacy since the parliamentary inquiry and the pressure in the system from COVID19, this is just the beginning.”
Professor Twomey said that community pharmacy is well placed to reduce unnecessary hospitalisations and strain on Government resources due to uncomplicated urinary tract infections, particularly in a time when the coronavirus pandemic is impacting many GP and hospital resources.
“Community pharmacists are highly trained health professionals, who complete five years of higher education as well as continuing professional education. This trial will require appropriately qualified pharmacists to complete additional training to ensure safe and accurate screening, diagnosis and treatment, which may include antibiotics.”
“Community pharmacists are conveniently located across Queensland with extended opening hours and no appointments necessary. This means that women experiencing a urinary tract infection can be seen and treated immediately, to avoid further complications.”
“I applaud the Queensland Government for funding this trial and supporting women’s health by enabling trained pharmacists to provide immediate treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections, in line with other OECD countries, including New Zealand and the UK,” Professor Twomey said.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has finalised the “Guidance for provision of antibiotics for acute uncomplicated cystitis in females (the practice standard) to accompany the implementation of the education and training material.
https://guilded.guild.org.au/course/view.php?id=674
- References
AIHW data, Potentially preventable hospitalisations, 2017-18, Queensland. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/primary-health-care/potentially-preventable-hospitalisations/data - Kidney Health Australia Fact Sheet: https://kidney.org.au/cms_uploads/docs/urinary-tract-infections-fact-sheet.pdf