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PSA News Releases - June 2009
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Keeping you up to date with PSA activities. | |
Information made available from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia by Peter Waterman. Peter Waterman is the Public Affairs Manager for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. He may be contacted by telephone (02)62834782, or on mobile phone 0419 260 827
9 June 2009
PSA WELCOMES NEW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has welcomed the appointment of Mr Mark Butler as the new Parliamentary Secretary for Health.
President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said the appointment of Mr Butler brought a wealth of experience into the portfolio which would act as an impetus in implementing the Government’s extensive health agenda.
“I look forward to working with Mr Butler in the interests of Australian consumers and members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the organisation that represents the professional interests of pharmacists across the nation,” Mr Plunkett said.
“The PSA provides standards of practice, education, training and practice support for pharmacists and helps members of the profession to deliver quality health care to consumers.
“As such, the PSA is in a unique position to provide support and assistance to Mr Butler in his role as Parliamentary Secretary for Health.
“The health system in Australia is going through a period of unprecedented change and the challenges facing it require a cohesive and intelligent response by everyone involved in the health-care system in this country.”
Mr Plunkett said the PSA was focused on helping the Government secure the best health outcomes for all Australians.
“Pharmacists are the most accessible and highly regarded health-care professionals in the country and as such are ideally placed to help develop and implement health-care policies for the betterment of all consumers.
“In particular, the area of preventive health care is one in which pharmacists already lead the way in Australia and the PSA looks forward to working with Mr Butler to further the role of pharmacists in this pivotal preventive role.”
Mr Plunkett also thanked the former Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Senator Jan McLucas, for her work and dedication in the role.
“PSA had a strong and robust working relationship with Senator McLucas and I wish her every success in the future,” Mr Plunkett said.
9 June 2009
PSA WELCOMES NEW HEALTH PORTFOLIO
The announcement of the establishment of a new Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery portfolio has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.
President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said the establishment of the new portfolio was recognition of the unique and challenging issues faced by indigenous health consumers as well as those living in non-urban areas of Australia.
“Often people living in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia face enormous difficulties when it comes to their health-care needs,” Mr Plunkett said.
“In addition, indigenous health has its own unique challenges which the establishment of this portfolio will go a long way towards addressing.
“The PSA, as the organisation that represents the professional interests of pharmacists across the nation, is well aware of these difficulties and has long advocated policies and programs to help address them.
“The establishment the Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery portfolio gives the Government and health-care professionals in Australia a vehicle from which to work to improve the health needs and outcomes of indigenous Australians and those living in non-urban areas.”
Mr Plunkett said the appointment of Mr Warren Snowdon as Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery underscored the importance of the portfolio.
“Mr Snowdon is a widely experienced politician and as a member for a rural area has first-hand knowledge and experience of some of the issues and difficulties faced by consumers in these areas,” Mr Plunkett said.
“On behalf of the PSA, I congratulate Mr Snowdon on his appointment and look forward to working closely with him and his new department to help achieve the outcomes that people in these areas so demonstrably need.”
10 June 2009
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BACK PHARMACIST SUPPORT SERVICE
The Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS) has been boosted with the announcement that the Australian Friendly Societies Pharmacy Association has committed to provide financial support to the service for the next three years.
PSS has been assisting Victorian pharmacists since 1995 by providing telephone counselling and support to distressed pharmacists.
The President of the Victorian Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Mark Feldschuh, said the commitment was significant and sees the Friendly Societies join PDL as major backers of the PSS.
“The support of PDL and AFSPA acknowledges that the PSS is for the benefit of all pharmacists whatever their area of practice or their particular organisational membership,” Mr Feldschuh said.
“The service is there for pharmacists during times of trauma, distress or need and offers counselling to these pharmacists. PSS operates on the Lifeline model of telephone counselling and can be contacted on a toll free number 1300 244 910.”
Mr Feldschuh said the PSS telephone line is answered by volunteer pharmacists who have undertaken extensive training and are able to relate with the problems faced by pharmacists.
“But to expand the service and effectively assist pharmacists outside Victoria, PSS needs financial support to build resources and to develop a network of contacts in each state of Australia,” Mr Feldschuh said.
“At the moment PSS is able to operate on a tight budget because of the generosity of its volunteers. However funding is required for training and administration to ensure that the service is effective and of a high quality. The commitment of the Friendlies and the ongoing backing of PDL are pivotal to the ongoing success of the service.”
Both AFSPA and PDL will now be represented on the committee of management of PSS.
“Donations and sponsorship from pharmacists and pharmacy organisations are being sought so that PSS can expand throughout Australia,” Mr Feldschuh said.
22 June 20009
GUILD GROUP TO HELP FUND PHARMACISTS’ SUPPORT SERVICE
Specialist pharmacy insurance, financial and professional services provider, the Guild Group, has announced it will contribute $10,000 towards the Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS).
The funds are part of a drive to expand the PSS from a Victorian-based service to a national service to benefit pharmacist across the country. PSS has been assisting Victorian pharmacists since 1995 by providing telephone counselling and support to distressed pharmacists.
The President of the Victorian Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Mark Feldschuh, said the Guild Group’s commitment would be a great help in expanding the service.
“The Guild Group has long been a great supporter of pharmacy in Australia and its recognition of the value of PSS, and of the contribution PSS makes to the welfare of pharmacists across Australia, is most welcome,” he said.
“PSS is for the benefit of all pharmacists whatever their area of practice or where they are located,” Mr Feldschuh said.
“The service is there for pharmacists during times of trauma, distress or need and offers counselling to these pharmacists. PSS operates on the Lifeline model of telephone counselling and can be contacted on a toll free number 1300 244 910.”
Mr Feldschuh said the PSS telephone line is answered by volunteer pharmacists who have extensive training and can relate with the problems faced by pharmacists.
“The value of the service is such that there is a call for it to be available nationally and it is contributions such as this by the Guild Group that will help us achieve this objective,” Mr Feldschuh said.
Guild Insurance General Manager David Brown said, “PSS provide an important service to pharmacy that we feel is well worth supporting. As an insurance, financial services and professional services provider, the Guild Group is a partner to pharmacy. This partnership is realised through our significant contributions to pharmacy events and organisations and our support for services such as PSS.”
“PSS operates on a tight budget because of the generosity of its volunteers. However funding is required for training and administration to ensure that the service is effective and of a high quality. The Guild Group’s commitment will help to ensure the service remains effective and of the highest quality.
“Donations and sponsorship from pharmacists and pharmacy organisations are being sought so that PSS can expand throughout Australia.”
Wednesday 24 June 2009
TIME TO CONSIDER EXPANDING PRESCRIBING RIGHTS
Governments and health professionals across Australia need to give full and detailed consideration to granting pharmacists and other non-medial health professionals the right to prescribe medications, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia says.
President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said today that some non-medical health professions have already been granted prescribing rights and it was time that this right was also granted to pharmacists.
Mr Plunkett said pharmacists were ideally placed to prescribe because of their detailed knowledge of medications and their face-to-face interaction with consumers.
“Pharmacists are guided by the principles of quality use of medicines and securing the optimum health outcomes for consumers and these are fundamental to the guidelines for prescribing,” he said.
Authorities should also consider extending prescribing nights to other non-medical health professionals but a focused approach was needed in any such decision.
“In most cases the process has largely been driven by each health professional group and implemented on an ad hoc basis without the opportunity to consider uniformity, common goals and core principles across all health professions,” he said.
“It is time to formally consider prescribing by pharmacists and other non-medical health professionals as a major initiative to help facilitate a more efficient and effective health system.”
But Mr Plunkett said any approval must be based on some solid principles including:
* Patient safety and access to high-quality care being of paramount importance in any such initiative
* Prescribing rights being granted in a way that helps to enhance timely access to medicines
* Prescribing rights being granted in a safe and cost-effective manner for the consumer
· Health professionals having a full understanding of, and a commitment to, the principles of the Quality Use of Medicines
· Prescribing and dispensing functions being clearly delineated.
”The PSA believes such a framework must be focused on consumers and be underpinned by a primary concern for the delivery of safe and high-quality care,” Mr Plunkett said.
“It must also enhance the timely access to medicines and to maintaining a continuity of care; as well as promoting the quality use of medicines.”
Thursday 25 June 2009
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR PSA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
Nominations for the prestigious 2009 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Awards for Excellence are being called for with winners to be announced at the Pharmacy Congress Australia in October.
The PSA’s Pharmacist of the Year, Young Pharmacist of the Year and Lifetime Recognition Awards are regarded in the profession as pinnacles of achievement and are held in the highest esteem both within and outside the profession.
The President of the PSA, Warwick Plunkett, said the Pharmacist of the Year and Young Pharmacist Awards recognised the special individual contributions to the professional advancement of pharmacy in 2009 while the Lifetime Achievement Award recognised an individual’s contribution over a longer period.
“These awards symbolise the highest standards and principles of the pharmacy profession in Australia in 2009 and give recipients a status among the pharmacy profession and among other health professionals which is second to none,” Mr Plunkett said.
“They represent a standard that reflects the recipients’ commitment and dedication to their profession in 2009 and beyond which is exemplary in a field that already boasts standards of a calibre that are the envy of many health professionals.
“The PSA Excellence Awards are the pharmacy profession’s most prestigious awards, recognising individual achievement and the important contribution that the pharmacy profession makes to the whole of Australian society.
“They acknowledge the achievers of the profession: those involved in innovative practice; those who are striving to raise practice standards; and pharmacists who, through their professionalism, provide a model of practice which others strive to emulate.”
Mr Plunkett said the awards were made possible through the generous sponsorship of Symbion Pharmacy Services whose retail brands include Chemmart and Terry White Chemists, and while a nominee must be a member of PSA, there is no restriction on who may lodge a nomination.
“Nominations are sought for pharmacists from all sectors of practice – community, hospital, consultancy, industry, education, academia, defence, government, research and other areas,” Mr Plunkett said.
“This is an opportunity for fellow pharmacists to recognise their peers or for the public to nominate a pharmacist in any field who they believe displays a standard of excellence which makes them exceptional.”
Further details of the awards are available at: http://www.psa.org.au/excellenceawards
MEDIA CONTACT:
Warwick Plunkett 0412 304 450
Peter Waterman 0419 260 827
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