PD for Thu 18 Mar 2021 - Twomey to lead Guild, PPA continues fight against IR reforms, Tassie

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Thu 18th March 2021

Use only as directed. Consult your healthcare professional if symptoms persist.

Twomey to lead Guild PHARMACY Guild of Australia Queensland Branch President, Trent Twomey (pictured), is set to succeed outgoing National President, George Tambassis, when the organisation’s National Council meets tomorrow.

In a statement released yesterday, the Guild’s Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement Lead Negotiator, said he had accepted the nomination as National President, describing it as “a generational changing of the guard”.

Twomey said he had been informed he was the sole nominee for the position.

“While I am very excited to serve in this capacity, it is not something that I do lightly,” he said.

“We all know how challenging pharmacy can be, especially over the last 12 months and into the next few years.

“Over my 10 years on the National Council, I’ve collegiately dedicated my time and effort to ensure our members are fully supported.

“As a team, we have accomplished a lot,” Twomey said.

“Still, I’m most proud of those areas where we have been able to deliver more services to our patients and customers and seen

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“This election is not about me; it does represent a generational changing of the guard, but more importantly, a continuation of the support, advocacy for and love of community pharmacy.

“The Guild family will rededicate itself to our members, and we’ll prepare the Guild to meet the modern challenges presented by COVID-19 and the post-COVID-19 landscape,” he promised.

Today’s issue of PD Pharmacy Daily today features three pages of news, plus a full page from Smith & Nephew.

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Travel inspiration for your next holiday

Thu 18th March 2021

©Destination NSW

PPA continues fight against IR reforms EMPLOYEE pharmacists’ union, Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA), is warning crossbench Senators that the Federal Government’s Omnibus Industrial Relations (IR) Bill will hurt pharmacists and undermine the profession’s capacity to provide community healthcare.

PPA President, Dr Geoff March, said it was astonishing that pharmacy workers were facing cuts to their wages and workplace rights, after their efforts in supporting their community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Australia’s pharmacists, often with risk to their personal health, worked long hours throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure our community was provided with the vital medications and services they required,” he said.

“Now, instead of the praise and support they rightly deserve, pharmacists face the biggest attack on their working conditions in two decades.

Drs seek COVAX rollout clarity THE Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) are calling on the Federal Government to clarify the booking process for COVID-19 vaccines (COVAX), after GP clinics were inundated with calls and online bookings yesterday.

The AMA said demand for the vaccine was positive, but stressed patients needed to know when they would be eligible to receive their shots.

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“The Morrison Government’s IR laws hurt Australia’s pharmacists.

“They will take away rights of those employed on a casual or part time basis, make harmful emergency JobKeeper provisions permanent and reduce workers’ ability to bargain collectively for higher pay and conditions.

“After the enormous sacrifices pharmacists have made to protect the community’s health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, they deserve better.”

March warned the IR Bill combined with PPA’s 2021 Community and Hospital Pharmacists Remuneration Report (PD 17 Mar) showing graduate pay is at the lowest level of any profession in Australia, pharmacy could struggle to attract and retain talent.

“If the Morrison Government’s workplace laws are passed and wages and conditions are cut further, the capacity of our industry to attract the talented graduates we need to protect the community’s

Getting wound dressing right HEALTHCARE specialist, Smith & Nephew, is providing pharmacists with a virtual reality tool to help ensure patients select the right dressing size for a wound.

The S+N VR Dressings app assists pharmacists to make the correct choice of bandage when patients present with injuries.

See page four for more.

health will be further jeopardised.

“Its absolutely critical that cross bench senators reject the Morrison Government’s workplace laws, which will hurt Australia’s pharmacists and undermine our capacity to provide the quality care our community requires into the future.”

The PPA report also noted a high rate of pharmacists working through their lunch breaks - with 53% of community pharmacists reporting they regularly work through breaks.

Welsh pharmacies set for cash injection COMMUNITY pharmacies in Wales are set to receive a share of a £9.1m cash injection in recognition of their work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Welsh Government announced plans to distribute £5.6m directly to the sector in Dec, Chemist and Druggist reported, and revealed it was adding a further £3.5m for pharmacies earlier this week.

Community Pharmacy Wales Chair, Mark Griffiths said the move “reflects and appreciates the hard work and real expenditure made by

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the network during the most challenging period in the history of community pharmacy”.

“We are grateful that the Minister for Health and Services, Vaughan Gething, and the whole Welsh Government have recognised our contribution in word, in deed and in totality,” Griffiths said.

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Thu 18th March 2021

Tassie medicinal cannabis CAS backed PLANS to introduce improvements to Tasmania’s Controlled Access Scheme (CAS) to boost access to unregistered medicinal cannabis in the state, are being welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Tasmanian Branch.

The changes will authorise GPs on the Apple Isle to prescribe medicinal cannabis products and more community pharmacies will be able to dispense the medication, Tasmanian Guild Branch President, Helen O’Byrne said.

Relevant approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration will result in Tasmania adopting the national streamlined online application pathway and 48 hour authorisation timeframe.

“It is important to recognise that some treatments are not

conventional but for those with serious and long-term illnesses these changes will allow patients, together with their GPs, the opportunity to explore treatment options previously denied to them,” O’Byrne said.

“The changes are a sensible approach to prescribing.

“Patients will be able to attend a doctor in their community and receive a prescription locally.

“For those people who have a serious illness this makes their lives a little bit easier and utilises the healthcare ecosystem in their community.”

The changes will see the Tasmanian CAS adopt a consistent approach to the models used in other jursidictions.

O’Byrne also called on the Tasmanian Government to

FatBlaster ad lands pharmacy $13k fine NEWCASTLE-BASED pharmacy, Junction Rx Pty, has been issued an infringement notice for $13,320 after failing to comply with a cease and desist notice by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

The pharmacy allegedly advertised FatBlaster Apple Cider Vinegar and Garcinia Max, which was not listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

“Junction Rx was one of fifteen online retailers issued with cease and desist notices regarding alleged unlawful advertising of the product. Fourteen of the online retailers came into compliance by the TGA’s deadline,” the TGA said.

“The TGA investigation into online advertisers of the product follows similar action taken in relation to the Australian sponsor of the product Cat Media Pty Ltd.”

consider a harmonised approach to other aspects of prescribing and dispensing, including schedule 8 medications, adding the organisation was looking forward to working with the Department of Health, in line with the new access scheme commencing from 01 Jul.

Pharmacist faces fraud charges US PHARMACIST, Robert Sabet, is facing multiple charges relating to fraud, bribery and “unlawful spending” after being arrested in relation to claims made for products that were not dispensed.

Sabet paid allegedly bribed patients so he could make fake claims through Medicare.

Dispensary Corner THIS is definitely what the PD team would describe as a wurstcase scenario.

Police in Germany have solved an almost decade-old burglary by analysing the DNA left on a half-eaten piece of sausage.

Officers in the town of Schwelm said they had retained the sausagy sample from a local break-in which took place in Mar 2012, during which the thief apparently felt a bit peckish and helped himself to a little bit of cured charcuterie in the home.

After taking a big bite (pictured) the alleged sausage snatcher left the rest of the meat behind, with the porky chunk saved as a vital clue.

The case went cold (not a bad idea for keeping the snack in good condition) until a recent alert about a DNA sample taken from the perpetrator of a violent attack in France.

However, despite the meaty match it’s unlikely the 2012 robbery will be prosecuted, due to an expiry of the statute of limitations.

Victorian pharmacists – have your say!

Help shape the Victorian COVID-19 vaccine communication strategy For more information and to complete the survey: http://redcap.link/COVIDVax Contact study staff at COVIDVaccine@mcri.edu.au This study is funded by the Victorian Department of Health. It has been approved by the Royal Children’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee.

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How do you select the right dressing size for a wound?

S+N VR Dressings A virtual reality app that helps you select the right dressing size.

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For accurate size representation, hold device 23cm from wound.

For further information consult your pharmacist. Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare professional.

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