Fri 15 September 2023
SHPA welcomes Tasmania announcement as another step forward in pharmacist-led prescribing
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has welcomed yesterday’s announcement that Tasmanian pharmacists will soon be part of a new pilot program to prescribe medicines for aged care patients, and to patients in remote areas with limited access to general practitioners.
Announced yesterday by Tasmania’s Health Minister the Hon. Guy Barnett LLM alongside SHPA Tasmanian Branch Chair Kelly Beswick, the pilot follows the release of recommendations in the Final Report of Tasmania’s Pharmacist Scope of Practice Review.
SHPA President Tom Simpson has congratulated Minister Barnett on the landmark, nation-first announcement which further propels pharmacists’ scope of practice in Australia.
‘This is a fantastic step forward for pharmacist-led collaborative prescribing practices, which started in our hospitals and continue to expand to other care settings, where our members work in new and emerging specialty roles.
‘SHPA looks forward to seeing more pharmacists across the country demonstrate the value of collaborative prescribing in improving patient care and strengthening health systems.
'Collaborative pharmacist-led prescribing programs have been pioneered in Australian hospitals for more than 11 years, with Tasmania being one of the early adopters and a majority of Australian jurisdictions now supporting or planning to implement them in public hospitals.’
Mr Simpson says interest in pharmacist-led prescribing continues to grow as evidence builds of its many benefits.
‘Recently we were fortunate to showcase the benefits of the Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting to Federal Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, the Hon. Emma McBride MP at the Emergency Department at Mersey Community Hospital in North West Tasmania.
‘On behalf of hospital pharmacists, I congratulate the Tasmanian Government on this momentous decision that will significantly enhance medication safety for aged care residents.
‘SHPA is looking forward to the implementation of the other recommendations made in the Final Report including the expansion of the current Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting (PPMC) model to include pharmacists prescribing of both new and pre-admission medications in Tasmanian hospitals.’
Pictured: SHPA Tasmania Branch Chair Kelly Beswick with Minister Barnett at yesterday’s announcement.