Visiting the local doctor is becoming harder and harder as new research claims wait times are exploding to up to three weeks across Australia.
Research commissioned by Insightfully has found 40 per cent of Australians are waiting an “unacceptable” length of time to see their GP with one in 10 people waiting more than three weeks for an appointment.
The situation is worse for regional areas, with one in five waiting more than three weeks.
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Pharmacy Guild of Australia national president Trent Twomey said pharmacists are retraining themselves to increase their scope of practice and ease the pressure on GPs.
Pharmacists who have gone back to university for another year are able to issue prescriptions and medical advice for minor ailments like earaches, skin conditions and UTIs.
Twomey said this allows those with more serious conditions to be seen by their GP faster.
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“The number one potentially preventable hospital presentation in Australia is treatment for an uncomplicated urinary tract infection which is why women now in every state and territory can ask their pharmacist for a short course of antibiotics to treat an uncomplicated UTI,” he said.
“We are now seeing more and more conditions around the federation being added to this list.
“We’re seeing now pharmacists can initiate the supply of hormonal contraption. If you need the pill, you can now go to your local community pharmacy if you can’t get in to see your GP.”
The guild estimates that 1000 GP appointments could be freed up each year if pharmacists cater to what would be five appointments per day.
“Pharmacists are part a critical part of a holistic health system,” Twomey said.
“We are putting our hands up to do more, to take the pressure off GPs and, more importantly, to keep Australians out of emergency departments.”
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New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have launched programs allowing pharmacists to expand health care services.
Victoria and South Australia are expected to soon follow.
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