Charlotte Varcoe
STAFFING issues remain the biggest issue to install a 24/7 pharmacy in Mount Gambier/Berrin, according to local pharmacist Tony Tu.
Recently the state government announced three 24/7 pharmacies in the metropolitan area which is expected to have a catchment of almost half a million people.
The Adelaide-based pharmacies were chosen from an “open and competitive” tender process with all pharmacies meeting the tender requirements.
The state opposition has now called for the model to be implemented in the regions, beginning in Mount Gambier/Berrin with shadow minister for regional health Penny Pratt questioning why there was no current incentive to set one up in regional areas.
“From disruptions to midwifery services in the country to mammoth delays for sick patients just to get access to a general practitioner, regional South Australians continue to be ignored by Labor and it is an insult to anyone living outside of metropolitan Adelaide,” Ms Pratt said.
“Why has no consideration been given to setting up a 24/7 pharmacy in the regions which face an even greater level of disadvantage when it comes to accessing after-hours health care services?
“More than 30,000 people have now signed two separate petitions calling for improved health services in our regional communities – how long can their voices be disregarded?”
Speaking with The Border Watch, Mr Tu said having a 24/7 pharmacy within the region would be fantastic but the shortfall of staff would make it difficult to run.
“At the moment we are struggling to fill the shifts we do have so it is really hard getting trained health professionals down here,” Mr Tu said.
“I don’t know if anyone would want to work those hours because it would be really difficult to find them, we struggle to get someone to want to work and we close at seven.
“There is also no doctor’s clinic open after hours either so I do not think there are enough people so I think extended hours would be good but I do not necessarily think we need to be open past 9 or 10pm.”
Mr Tu said there was also more people living in the city so he did think there was a greater need there.
“Those who come in late at night are generally people who are sick so I think those attending late at night would be last minute things such as antibiotics for children after five o’clock or painkillers, steroids but generally we see a lot of children that need antibodies,” he said.
“I imagine we would see more of that or people who want to get those sooner rather than waiting for the next day.
“There are generally people who are waiting here first thing in the morning but if they were to get their medication before generally it would be painkillers.”
During a fleeting visit to the Limestone Coast, federal shadow minister for health and aged care Anne Ruston said there was “no doubt” the biggest crisis facing health care in Australia was the workforce.
“We have been calling on the federal government to say they need a national care workforce strategy that needs to address not only the lack of workforce but also the distribution,” Ms Ruston said.
“We know the further you get away from metropolitan areas, the harder it is to get workforce and we need incentives in place that will encourage people to come out of the regions.
“We think there needs to be a regional health care plan and it fits in with a national workforce strategy that actually incentivises people to be medical professionals to go everywhere in Australia.”
Ms Ruston said a 24/7 pharmacy in Mount Gambier/Berrin would be beneficial due to its large population.
“I think there needs to be a much better rationalization or coordination between the health sector and the pharmacy sector to make sure we are actually able to see the people who are about to fill their scripts when their clinics are closing,” she said.
“We have our country divided up into modified monash areas which recognise the shallowness of the workforce and what we need to do is see incentives given to our pharmacies or medical practitioners so there is actually a financial incentive for people to work in these remote locations.”
State Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton said while the government was upgrading the Mount Gambier and District Hospital emergency department, they would “monitor the delivery” of the 24/7 pharmacies as well as the uptake of the recently opened Urgent Care Clinic.
“Here is a challenge to the Liberals: if they are promising a 24/7 pharmacy in Mount Gambier then make that clear,” Mr Picton said.
“If they do not commit, then this is just a cheap, crass political plea for attention.”
