<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>328477</docID> <postdate>2024-09-06 16:07:47</postdate> <headline>Patient warning over plan to ease GP load with pharmacy</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-295928" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20230901001836902771-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Pharmacists would treat a range of minor ailments under the NSW government plan. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Sam McKeith</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>A NSW plan to allow pharmacists to treat more conditions could ease the pressure on overworked GPs, but their peak body has slammed the scheme as risking people's health.</strong></p> <p>Pharmacists could soon be able to order prescription treatments for medical problems such as ear infections, nausea and acne under a proposal aimed at lessening workloads on GPs.</p> <p>Health Minister Ryan Park on Friday said the expanded scope for treatment could come into force by 2026 in a bid to address a shortage of doctors.</p> <p>The scheme would follow additional training, building on an existing program that allows for urinary tract infection prescriptions to be delivered through pharmacies.</p> <p>"It's up to me ... to do everything I can, to pull every lever I can, to try and look at different pathways for people to access healthcare," Mr Park said.</p> <p>But Royal Australian College of General Practitioners NSW chair Rebekah Hoffman criticised the plan as reckless and politically motivated.</p> <p>"It has potentially devastating consequences for people across NSW due to the risks of incorrect treatment and serious illnesses being missed," she said.</p> <p>Diagnosing health conditions was complex and required years of medical training that could not be squeezed "into a short course for pharmacists", Dr Hoffman added.</p> <p>"If you get a diagnosis wrong, the consequences can be devastating."</p> <p>Under the suggested changes, NSW pharmacists would be able to treat middle-ear infections, minor wounds, nausea and vomiting and some gastro-oesophageal problems.</p> <p>They would also be empowered to treat mild to moderate acne and mild acute musculoskeletal pain.</p> <p>Mr Park said the plan would ease the burden on GPs and the state's "very busy" emergency departments.</p> <p>He said people often presented to hospitals on weekends or after hours for the "uncomplicated conditions" that could be easily treated under the expanded scheme.</p> <p>"This is all about making sure that we recognise the trust the community has with our pharmacists, taking pressure off our hard-working GPs and providing affordable and accessible healthcare to the community," he added.</p> <p>Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW branch president David Heffernan said the change would mean patients were not forced to go to hospital "for a simple ear infection, just because their GP can't see them".</p> <p>The plan follows a Northern Territory plan to give pharmacists the power to treat 21 conditions, including school sores, shingles, asthma, swimmer's ear and hypertension.</p> <p>The GP lobby also opposed the NT plan, announced in July, claiming it undermined Therapeutic Goods Administration rules designed to protect patients.</p> <p>A pharmacy prescription pilot has also been running in Queensland.</p> </body>