Pharmacies brought in-house at regional hospitals
Regional South Australia is set to benefit from a new move to bring hospital pharmacies into public hands.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Blair Boyer has announced that pharmacy services will be brought in-house at hospitals across northeastern South Australia, saying bringing the service into public hands would benefit local communities.
Pharmacy services at hospitals in the Flinders and Upper Northern Local Health Network (FUNLHN), including Port Augusta Hospital, Whyalla Hospital and Health Service and FUNLHN outreach sites, will now be managed by SA Pharmacy.
Minister Boyer said the move would reduce costs by streamlining services and ending duplication.
“This will ensure communities in the Flinders and Upper Northern communities will have access to a public hospital pharmacy, focused on serving the local community.”
Boyer said that the move would bring the FUNLHN into line with all other regional local health networks, with a transition period over the coming months, and current staff would be offered employment at the new service.
FUNLHN CEO Craig Packard thanked the previous operator and welcomed the new partnership with SA Pharmacy.
“Pharmacy services are a critical part of the hospital experience, so it’s important to have a skilled and trusted provider in place,” he said.
SA Pharmacy executive director Richard Marotti said the aim was “to deliver safe, effective and innovative pharmacy services to improve the health outcomes of FUNLHN residents”.
Billy Elrick, who is SA and NT branch secretary for the Health Service Union, said that “bringing pharmacy services back in-house is a sensible decision that recognises pharmacy as an essential hospital service”.
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“This is a positive outcome for HSU members and for patients who rely on safe, properly integrated care,” he said.
“Bringing essential health services back into the public system is the right decision for workers, patients and regional communities.”
It comes after a recent announcement that electronic health records would be expanded to include mental health, alcohol and drug issues, with Boyer saying it would benefit regional South Australians by ensuring they receive the same care wherever they are.
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