The Victorian State Government in Australia has committed $28.7m over the next four years to fund the establishment and running of 20 super pharmacies. The pharmacies will operate 7 days a week 24 hours a day and will employ a nurse to be on hand from 6pm to 10pm for advice and services. There are 20 funded sites with 15 located within Melbourne and 5 in rural areas.
The move aims to reduce the pressure by providing an alternative to emergency care services.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has welcomed the move whilst the Australian Medical Association has provided significant critique.
Personally, I feel this is a step in the right direction from both the Victorian government and the pharmacy sector. With pharmacies being located in prominent retail areas such super pharmacies may in fact become central to healthcare in the community. Obviously the results will be reviewed in time with expansion of the program to more sites being a long-term goal. The allocation of an evening nurse also adds an element of care that, whilst seemingly suitable, has been trialled only lightly.
Would you attend a 24-7 pharmacy instead of Emergency Care? Do you trust a nurse and pharmacist to deliver health advice out of hours?