More than 40 South Australians sought help from the state's first 24-hour pharmacy on its opening night, providing them timely access to medications and health advice and taking pressure off our busy emergency departments.
The first shift of 24/7 trade at National Pharmacies Norwood saw 45 customers attend from 10pm to 8am, from as far as Brighton and West Lakes.
There were 27 prescriptions dispensed and many parents seeking pain relief and treatment for infant colic, as well as prescriptions filled for infections such as UTIs.
National Pharmacies in Norwood – servicing central Adelaide – yesterday began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, under a new State Government initiative to provide better access to care and medicines, and reduce avoidable trips to hospital.
It's the first of three community pharmacies being supported by the Malinauskas Labor Government to extend operating hours around the clock, every day of the year.
The other two – Chemist Warehouse at the Saints Shopping Centre in Salisbury Plain and Chemist Warehouse at Clovelly Park – will begin operating 24/7 in coming weeks.
The three 24/7 pharmacies were selected through a competitive tender process and are located in northern, southern, and central Adelaide to provide the broadest access.
The State Government has invested $2.5 million a year to fund the initiative which will help to reduce avoidable presentations to busy hospital emergency departments.
Until now, emergency departments and the Urgent Mental Health Care Centre have been the only walk-in health services open around the clock.
A pharmacist will be on staff 24 hours a day at each of the three pharmacies to provide specialist health advice, dispense medicines and provide professional pharmacy services.
The three pharmacies will also have added security including on-site security guards overnight.
In another important pharmacy expansion, from next month, South Australian women aged 18-65 with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) will be able to access antibiotic treatment through participating pharmacies, without needing to visit a doctor.
From May, eligible women will also be able to visit a local pharmacy to access a resupply of their oral contraceptive pill, without needing a doctor's appointment.
Community pharmacies in South Australia will need to do additional training, being offered from this month, to offer the UTI services which are modelled on those already operating in other states.
For more information, go to www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/communitypharmacy
As put by Chris Picton
It's fantastic to see such a successful first night of trade at our first 24-hour pharmacy, helping so many South Australians.
The fact that 45 people from around Adelaide could access medication and health advice overnight without having to go to an emergency department shows how needed this service is.
Families can now be assured that this pharmacy is never closing – it will be there for them any day, any time to help with medications, prescriptions and pharmacy advice.
National Pharmacies in Norwood is just the first of three round-the-clock pharmacies for SA – with two more soon to come, in the north and south of Adelaide.
As put by National Pharmacies CEO Vito Borrello
Our first night of 24/7 trade has gone smoothly with our pharmacist reporting that health advice and medication was sought from patients across central Adelaide and as far south as Brighton and as far west as West Lakes.
Parents needing pain relief and treatments for infant colic, as well as prescriptions for infections such as UTIs are just a couple of examples of the service we have been able to provide so far.
We look forward to continued success caring for the community, both day and night.
