The role and significance of community pharmacy in regional areas was a key focus of discussion for the Nationals leader during a recent visit to Dubbo, in New South Wales.
It comes ahead of the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement (8CPA), due to commence in July, which will invest up to an additional $3 billion in community pharmacy.
National’s leader, David Littleproud joined Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, in visiting Orana Mall Pharmacy as part of a regional tour.
The pair met with Life Pharmacy Group Pharmacist, and Managing Partner, Lisa Gibson to discuss regional resourcing, scope of practice, and 60 Day Dispensing.
“It was great to have both David and Mark spend time at Orana Mall Pharmacy and see firsthand what we do in community pharmacy in the country, and what services we can provide those in the region,” Lisa said.
“Life Pharmacy Group has been an integral part of Central West NSW for such a long time and their visit was a chance to discuss what we’re doing as a group, what we can provide the community and what we want to be providing the community. Community pharmacies in regional and rural areas play a very important role in first line healthcare and it’s great that we had the opportunity to discuss this with David and Mark.”
Mr Coulton received his influenza and covid vaccinations during his visit, which is a timely reminder to the broader community to ensure they are prepared for the winter months.
“As we know, there are challenges getting pharmacists, and other allied health professionals to the regions, so it was a great opportunity for David and Mark to come in speak with our team,” Lisa said.
“They also met Uzair Qamar, who is a New Zealand pharmacist, completing his internship here in Dubbo. Uzair shared his story and explained why community pharmacy, and Dubbo in particular, was his first choice for his internship.
Like many regional centres, Dubbo is the hub for surrounding regions in the Central West, who have a greater need for access to healthcare services, so this was a welcome opportunity to showcase our team and our services, as well as the important role community pharmacy plays in these areas.
LPG is a member of the Independent Pharmacies of Australia (IPA) Group.
Pharmacy Daily
Published April 24 2024
A medication review is an in-pharmacy review of patient’s medications, with the aim of optimising medication use to improve health outcomes and minimise medication misadventure. Pharmacists sit with patients and discuss their medication which also includes education, self-management, compliance and importantly an opportunity to discuss and identify any potential adverse effects, concerns and issues the patient is experiencing.
For patients suffering from diabetes, there is also a specific Diabetes Medication Review which provides the additional focus of diabetes medication management.
A Medication Review is completely subsidised by the government for all eligible patients as per Community Pharmacy Agreement Specific Guidelines. This means they must:
To be eligible for a Diabetes Medication Review a patient must (in addition to the criteria set above):
After the review, the patient will be provided a copy of the notes made together so that they can discuss them with their doctor if they wish. Medication reviews provide patients a clearer understanding of their medications and identify if anything can be made better, safer, or simpler
If you are stuck at home or can’t get to the pharmacy, not to worry! We are still providing our convenient “minimal contact” delivery service to our local community.
Call us today to order your medication or over-the-counter products and we will have your items delivered to your door in no time.
Your pharmacist can advise you on medicines or diets designed to assist with weight loss, or whether a certain product is right for you.
Your pharmacy may be able to offer you the following additional services to assist in weight loss or management of risk factors associated with obesity:
Health promotion activities such as:
Maintaining healthy blood pressure is important because high blood pressure is a risk factor for diseases such as heart attack, kidney failure and stroke. Keeping a close eye on your blood pressure is a good way to catch changes early and take appropriate action.
A good way to monitor your blood pressure is through in-pharmacy blood-pressure monitoring and recording. These services support patients to self-monitor blood pressure as a cardiovascular disease screening/monitoring service, often with referral to medical support when necessary.
Our team can assist with wound dressing and wound management, including burns, grazes, cuts and ulcers. Once we have assessed your wound we can then advise you of any necessary after wound care. Prevention is just as important as management, so we have a wide range of advice on optimising your skin health. We have systems to photograph and capture your wounds progression, for regular reviews to monitor the wound healing process and prevent any additional conditions. Ask our friendly pharmacist for more information.
At Life Pharmacy Group, we offer a Gift Wrapping service for any of those special items bought in store for a loved one or someone you care for.
Life Pharmacy Group country pharmacies run a number of health clinics on topics such as Heart, Diabetes & Asthma to name a few. The aim of these is to educate a better informed community while also building engagement with our customers.
At Life Pharmacy Group, our country pharmacies stock a range of popular brand fragrances and cosmetics.
Our pharmacists and staff can help you to distinguish the best product suited to your needs, especially if you have sensitive skins or special requirements.
We are only too happy to help, and we can even help with gift wrapping if you are buying these items for a friend or loved one.
If you or a family member have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you may feel overwhelmed. Diabetes is a serious and complex condition and you may be concerned about the implications of the disease and uncertain as to how it may impact your day-to-day life. It’s okay to be concerned, but remember you don’t need to know everything in one day. While keeping track of your blood sugar levels will seem like a hassle at first, it will soon become routine and you will feel more in control. There are many people who can support you in living with diabetes, including your community pharmacist.
A simple blood test is used to measure your cholesterol levels and, as well as determining a total cholesterol level, the blood test results will give a breakdown of the two main types of cholesterol.
These are:
Blood glucose tests are also sometimes called blood sugar tests. They are usually used to monitor and assist with the management of diabetes.
People with diabetes often monitor their own blood glucose at home though a finger-prick test with a blood glucose monitor.
The standard blood glucose tests measure your blood sugar level at a particular time and can help you to see the effects of food, exercise, medication and illness on your blood glucose levels.
As blood glucose monitoring detects your blood sugar levels at a particular point in time, it is not an accurate tool to assist with the diagnosis of diabetes. Your blood glucose levels generally go up or down during the day based on food, exercise, hormonal changes, and illness.
Sleep apnoea occurs when the walls of the throat come together during sleep, blocking the airways above the voice box. Breathing stops for a period of time varying from ten seconds to one minute, until the brain registers a lack of oxygen to the brain and wakes the patient. This may occur hundreds of times per night, causing fragmented sleep and therefore daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
The latest statistics indicate about 25 per cent of men over the age of 30 years have some degree of sleep apnoea, which makes it more common than asthma.
Being overweight or obese is one of the most common causes of sleep apnoea but other factors which can contribute to the condition include:
Community pharmacies are a great source of some treatment options for sleep apnoea as well as providing home screening kits.
If you are concerned about your weight you can ask your community pharmacist for help.
Your pharmacist and pharmacy staff can provide you with information on how to lose weight safely, set realistic weight loss goals, and provide extra support if you are trying to lose weight.
Other health care professionals such as dieticians are specifically trained to assist with weight management and help people make long-term changes to improve their health.
Sometimes losing just 5-10 per cent of your current body weight can help substantially decrease your risk of developing serious diseases. Research shows that people who engage the help of a health care professional have a better chance of losing weight and keeping it off.
Your pharmacist can advise you on medicines or diets designed to assist with weight loss, or whether a certain product is right for you.
Your pharmacy may be able to offer you the following additional services to assist in weight loss or management of risk factors associated with obesity:
Speak with an experienced Australian registered dentist or specialist via video from your wifi-enabled smart device anywhere.
Get pain relief, prescriptions, dental advice, referrals, treatment estimates, payment options, fact sheets, medical certificates and more.
Absence from Work Certificates can be provided by your pharmacist to verify:
Absence from Work Certificates are issued at the pharmacists’ discretion at pharmacies which offer this service. Pharmacists can only issue certificates for conditions that are within their scope of practice; such as minor ailments. If your illness or injury is outside a pharmacist’s ability to assess, they will refer you to a doctor or other relevant healthcare professional.
Absence from Work Certificates can be issued for short periods of leave and cannot be backdated. You may be asked for a form of identification (ID). If you need an Absence from Work Certificate for a carer, the person who is ill must be present.
Consultations for an Absence from Work Certificate are conducted in store by an experienced pharmacist and can vary in length. If you require this service it is recommended to call your local pharmacy first to see whether you need to make an appointment.
Fees apply for this service and vary between pharmacies.
Our community pharmacy can help by packing your regular medicines into a special dosing device called a Dose Administration Aid (DAA).
Medicine-related hospital admissions remain a significant problem in Australia. It is estimated that up to 400,000 people are admitted to hospital each year in Australia as a result of medicine-related problems.
DAAs can assist you to clearly see when to take your medicines and quickly check that you have taken your medicines.
Your pharmacy will manage your prescriptions and let you know when you need to see your doctor for new scripts.
The DAA will be made up and ready to collect when you visit your pharmacy – saving you time waiting in line!
Your pharmacist can also provide a print out of your medicines and the times they need to be taken to help with managing your medicines.
Talk to your pharmacist about whether a Dose Administration Aid would make taking your medicines easier.
Your pharmacy can also offer other medication management services, such as MedsChecks and Diabetes MedsChecks, and Home Medicines Reviews.
The friendly team at Erindale Pharmacy are always here for your health and wellbeing. Our pharmacy is a safe space to talk about mental health and you’re always welcome to chat to us. Our pharmacists are trained in Mental Health First Aid and have learnt the skills to recognise, assess and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. They can assist you or a loved one if you need help or connect you to further resources and support locally. If medication forms a part of your mental wellbeing journey, our pharmacists can help support you along the way. We offer a range of services and advice including delivery options, medication packs and medication reminder apps and we can help answer any questions you may have about your medicines or side effects. Ask our pharmacists today.
The friendly team at Flannery's Pharmacy are always here for your health and wellbeing. Our pharmacy is a safe space to talk about mental health and you’re always welcome to chat to us. Our pharmacists are trained in Mental Health First Aid and have learnt the skills to recognise, assess and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. They can assist you or a loved one if you need help or connect you to further resources and support locally. If medication forms a part of your mental wellbeing journey, our pharmacists can help support you along the way. We offer a range of services and advice including delivery options, medication packs and medication reminder apps and we can help answer any questions you may have about your medicines or side effects. Ask our pharmacists today.
The friendly team at Lanyon Pharmacy are always here for your health and wellbeing. Our pharmacy is a safe space to talk about mental health and you’re always welcome to chat to us. Our pharmacists are trained in Mental Health First Aid and have learnt the skills to recognise, assess and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. They can assist you or a loved one if you need help or connect you to further resources and support locally. If medication forms a part of your mental wellbeing journey, our pharmacists can help support you along the way. We offer a range of services and advice including delivery options, medication packs and medication reminder apps and we can help answer any questions you may have about your medicines or side effects. Ask our pharmacists today.
The friendly team at Life Pharmacy Orange are always here for your health and wellbeing. Our pharmacy is a safe space to talk about mental health and you’re always welcome to chat to us. Our pharmacists are trained in Mental Health First Aid and have learnt the skills to recognise, assess and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. They can assist you or a loved one if you need help or connect you to further resources and support locally. If medication forms a part of your mental wellbeing journey, our pharmacists can help support you along the way. We offer a range of services and advice including delivery options, medication packs and medication reminder apps and we can help answer any questions you may have about your medicines or side effects. Ask our pharmacists today.
The friendly team at Life Pharmacy Forbes are always here for your health and wellbeing. Our pharmacy is a safe space to talk about mental health and you’re always welcome to chat to us. Our pharmacists are trained in Mental Health First Aid and have learnt the skills to recognise, assess and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. They can assist you or a loved one if you need help or connect you to further resources and support locally. If medication forms a part of your mental wellbeing journey, our pharmacists can help support you along the way. We offer a range of services and advice including delivery options, medication packs and medication reminder apps and we can help answer any questions you may have about your medicines or side effects. Ask our pharmacists today.
More than 5 million Australians are currently living with continence problems.
Urinary incontinence is a term that describes any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder.
There are many types of incontinence pads available on the market. Help selecting the most appropriate pad for you from our local pharmacy. Getting the correct pad can make all the difference and given most patients are continent before surgery, it can be a steep learning curve post-surgery.
Beyond incontinence pads or in cases where you are struggling to achieve continence and need extra help, there are devices that are used to stop leakage from the bladder.
Take control of your diabetes wellness today! From medication management and monitoring to healthy lifestyle advice, we’re here to help. We offer diabetes medication reviews, which is an in-pharmacy service that provides a review of your medications with a focus on your medicine management, monitoring devices, education and self-management. During this review, we may be able to recommend other pharmacy services to make managing your medication and diabetes more effective and convenient. This can include personalised medication packs, EasyScript (scripts on file and script management service), blood pressure monitoring and blood glucose monitoring. If you or a loved one is living with diabetes, speak to the team in store today.
At Erindale Pharmacy, we offer sleep health support and are experienced with facilitating the diagnosis and management of sleep issues that may be affecting you and your loved ones. Our team can assist with finding the right solution for your needs. Our services include in-home sleep studies, CPAP equipment to purchase or to hire, as well as Sleep Apnoea support. Ask our friendly team in store or give us a call, to see how we can help you sleep easy today.
At Lanyon Pharmacy, we offer sleep health support and are experienced with facilitating the diagnosis and management of sleep issues that may be affecting you and your loved ones. Our team can assist with finding the right solution for your needs. Our services include in-home sleep studies, CPAP equipment to purchase or to hire, as well as Sleep Apnoea support. Ask our friendly team in store or give us a call, to see how we can help you sleep easy today.
Men’s Health Down Under (MHDU) was developed by our very own pharmacists Brad and Tim, who are passionate about providing solutions on a range of men’s health issues, including rehabilitation post-prostatectomy, peyronie’s disease, prostate issues, continence and erectile health. Brad, Tim and the team are equipped with expert knowledge, experience and training in Men’s Urological Health, and we have dedicated offsite clinic rooms for private consultations with our MHDU pharmacists. At MHDU no request for assistance is too big or small, and every question has been asked before – chat to our friendly team in store today.
Men’s Health Down Under (MHDU) was developed by our very own LPG pharmacists Brad and Tim, who are passionate about providing solutions on a range of men’s health issues, including rehabilitation post-prostatectomy, peyronie’s disease, prostate issues, continence and erectile health. The team are equipped with expert knowledge, experience and training in Men’s Urological Health, and we have clinic rooms for private consultations with our MHDU pharmacists. At MHDU no request for assistance is too big or small, and every question has been asked before – chat to our friendly team in store today.
Take the stress out of accessing essential health supplies. If you are time poor or unable to visit us in store, try our quick and easy home delivery service! Give us a call to order your medication or over-the-counter products over the phone and we will have your items delivered to you in no time. Even if we don’t have your items in stock, we have daily deliveries from our key suppliers so can source what you need quick as a flash.
Our professional team can help with a range of services, products and advice for new and expectant families. From pregnancy and breastfeeding support, measure and weighing your baby, to treating minor baby conditions such as nappy rash and teething. We’re here to help you and your little one at every stage of this exciting journey.
Here at Cooleman Court Pharmacy, we stock compression garments which can offer effective and reliable support for people with vascular conditions. Our professional pharmacy team are trained to measure and fit you into medical compression stockings and garments. We can also provide advice on application, care, and product recommendations based on your needs. Whether it be tired, aching, swollen legs, varicose veins, spider veins, lymphoedema, pregnancy or you’re preparing to travel, our solutions can help reduce swelling, discomfort and offer all day strong support.
Here at Flannery's Pharmacy, we stock compression garments which can offer effective and reliable support for people with vascular conditions. Our professional pharmacy team are trained to measure and fit you into medical compression stockings and garments. We can also provide advice on application, care, and product recommendations based on your needs. Whether it be tired, aching, swollen legs, varicose veins, spider veins, lymphoedema, pregnancy or you’re preparing to travel, our solutions can help reduce swelling, discomfort and offer all day strong support.
Here at Life Pharmacy Orange, we stock compression garments which can offer effective and reliable support for people with vascular conditions. Our professional pharmacy team are trained to measure and fit you into medical compression stockings and garments. We can also provide advice on application, care, and product recommendations based on your needs. Whether it be tired, aching, swollen legs, varicose veins, spider veins, lymphoedema, pregnancy or you’re preparing to travel, our solutions can help reduce swelling, discomfort and offer all day strong support.
Here at Life Pharmacy Forbes, we stock compression garments which can offer effective and reliable support for people with vascular conditions. Our professional pharmacy team are trained to measure and fit you into medical compression stockings and garments. We can also provide advice on application, care, and product recommendations based on your needs. Whether it be tired, aching, swollen legs, varicose veins, spider veins, lymphoedema, pregnancy or you’re preparing to travel, our solutions can help reduce swelling, discomfort and offer all day strong support.
Protect your family and local community by receiving your important immunisations at our Pharmacy. We offer vaccinations such as: Influenza, COVID-19 (and booster shots), MMR, Whooping Cough and protection from Meningococcal Disease and the list of vaccines we can provide in store is growing. Ask our friendly team in-store for more information on how to book in for these important vaccinations.
Make life simpler, easier and more convenient with personalised medication packs. If you are taking multiple pills, including vitamins and supplements, a personal medication pack makes it more convenient, consolidating all of your pills and tablets into one simple and tidy pack. These are available in both traditional ice cube style blister packs or individual sachets. Ask our pharmacist today!
Be on the right track with your health. As part of our dedication to helping our patients achieve their best possible health outcomes, we offer comprehensive health checks. These include: Lifestyle Assessment, Blood Glucose Testing, Diabetes Risk Assessment, Blood Pressure Testing and Cardiovascular Risk Assessment. We’ll discuss the results with you and provide tips to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Ask our friendly pharmacists for more details.
Did you know you can speak one on one with our pharmacists for one-on-one sit down a review of all your medicines? With our FREE medication review service, we can help you understand your medicines better, address any questions you may have, and discuss how we can help you get the best possible benefit from your medicines.
Did you know that we can organise a one-on-one nurse consult for you?
At Mountview Pharmacy, we offer sleep health support and are experienced with facilitating the diagnosis and management of sleep issues that may be affecting you and your loved ones. Our team can assist with finding the right solution for your needs. Our services include in-home sleep studies, CPAP equipment to purchase or to hire, as well as Sleep Apnoea support. Ask our friendly team in store or give us a call, to see how we can help you sleep easy today.
Your pharmacist can advise you on the best times to use your medicine, as well as how to avoid potential side effects. They can also demonstrate other products such as ‘spacers’ and ‘face masks’ which make inhalers more effective and easier to use.
If you take regular medicine to control your asthma, it is important to let your pharmacist know if you are taking other medicines, including non-prescription medicines, as some medicines can aggravate asthma and bring on an asthma attack.
At Orana Mall Pharmacy, we offer sleep health support and are experienced with facilitating the diagnosis and management of sleep issues that may be affecting you and your loved ones. Our team can assist with finding the right solution for your needs. Our services include in-home sleep studies, CPAP equipment to purchase or to hire, as well as Sleep Apnoea support. Ask our friendly team in store or give us a call, to see how we can help you sleep easy today.
At Parkes Pharmacy, we offer sleep health support and are experienced with facilitating the diagnosis and management of sleep issues that may be affecting you and your loved ones. Our team can assist with finding the right solution for your needs. Our services include in-home sleep studies, CPAP equipment to purchase or to hire, as well as Sleep Apnoea support. Ask our friendly team in store or give us a call, to see how we can help you sleep easy today.
Our professional team can help with a strategy to help you quit smoking. There are many good reasons to quit smoking and you will start to see the benefits quickly.
Australia is ranked 10th in the world when it comes to obesity ahead of even the UK. And we know that weight loss requires more than medication. Our specialised pharmacy team are experts in weight loss management and can help with more than medicine. As part of a larger multidisciplinary team we are ready to support you with your weightloss journey.
1 in 3 Australians use a complementary or alternative medicines and we recognise that the use of these medicines can be extremely beneficial to both health and wellbeing. With more and more of our community looking at preventative health and healthcare solutions to compliment their prescribed regimens our specialised holistic pharmacist Ness is an expert across many facets of health and wellbeing. She is available for in store consultations by appointment.
The friendly team at Lanyon Pharmacy are always here for your health and wellbeing. Our pharmacy is a safe space to talk about mental health and you’re always welcome to chat to us. Our pharmacists are trained in Mental Health First Aid and have learnt the skills to recognise, assess and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. They can assist you or a loved one if you need help or connect you to further resources and support locally. If medication forms a part of your mental wellbeing journey, our pharmacists can help support you along the way. We offer a range of services and advice including delivery options, medication packs and medication reminder apps and we can help answer any questions you may have about your medicines or side effects. Ask our pharmacists today.