The work of community pharmacists has again been recognised in Federal Parliament with the Member for Braddon, Tasmania, Gavin Pearce, giving a speech in which he praised their “exceptional” contribution over the past year.
“Since the pandemic broke out more than 12 months ago, our pharmacists have stepped up, taking an enormous burden of responsibility, making an exceptional and necessary contribution to the healthcare within our local community and to their patients, who literally trust them with their lives,” he said.
“I have mentioned the COVID-19 outbreak in the North West Regional Hospital in this place previously and our region's remarkable efforts to get this virus under control.
“Our response has become the gold standard for managing other outbreaks across the country.
“I know that this wouldn't have happened without the efforts of our pharmacy network.
“I received a note the other day from Joe O'Malley, a pharmacist from the central coast region in Tasmania, who said, 'The way the community pharmacy network stepped up during the Burnie hospital lockdown was a highlight for the year.
“He explained that many prescriptions were held by the hospital and so, as soon as it was locked down, patients couldn't access their scripts.
“Community pharmacists from right across the north-west and the west coast really had to step up and give patients what they needed, often at their own expense and at their own risk.
“Joe went on to commend the MyHealth Record portal, which allowed pharmacists to view the health information of patients and get them the medication that they so desperately needed in this difficult time.”
Mr Pearce congratulated the following recipients in the Tasmanian Pharmacist of the Year awards:
- 2021 Pharmacist of the Year - Duncan McKenzie.
- Lifetime Achievement Award - Rhys Jones
- Early Career Pharmacist Award - Jack Muir Wilson and Phil Tibbits.
Acknowledging the winners, Mr Pearce said, “the task ahead of was to immunise the many Australians who want to receive the COVID vaccine in 2021, and our community pharmacists again will play a critical role.
“With over three million Australians receiving their influenza vaccine from pharmacies in 2020, they are well-versed in delivering these immunisation services.
“I know the challenges faced by the sector in delivering the vaccine within their communities will be resolved with the same can-do attitude that they've used throughout the challenges of the past year.
“The challenges of 2020 have brought out the best in our great profession, and I congratulate the pharmacists, their pharmacy assistants and their valuable staff for being an inspiration to us all.”
