News Flash

The Public Service Association recently provided members feedback on the Draft Recommendations Report “Ensuring Quality Use of Medicines in CHSA” to Country Health SA (CHSA).

The PSA has now received the following response from management in relation to PSA feedback:

1. Infrastructure Considerations

Feedback regarding the infrastructure requirement to safely deliver pharmacy services in CHSA hospitals was raised by a number of stakeholders including yourself and as a result the report will now specify the need to consider infrastructure both in terms of physical space and equipment as well as the role of technicians.

2. Classification of existing positions

While it is recognised that the classification of positions is a factor in the recruitment and retention of Pharmacists across CHSA, it was outside the scope of the project to review the classification of existing positions. Separate to the Pharmacy project, CHSA is in the process of reviewing all existing Allied Health Professional roles, updating job descriptions to bring them in line with the recently approved AHP ‘Exemplar’ job descriptions, and where appropriate, initiating or supporting reclassification of positions.

3. AHP levels for experienced pharmacists

The draft report specified recommended AHP levels for 4 additional Pharmacist roles. The project team agrees that the classification of these positions should be considered as part of overall recruitment and retention strategies and as such references to particular classification levels for these roles will be removed.

4. Governance of contracted providers

The project team agrees that there is a need for enhances governance by CHSA in relation to contracted pharmacy services and also has concerns relating to the occupational health and safety of sole practitioners. CHSA will work closely with the Strategic Procurement Unit to ensure that that there is improved governance through the development of more consistent contracts and a contract management framework.

5. Role of technicians

The project team acknowledges the important role of technicians in the delivery of pharmacy services and will ensure that this is better emphasized in the report.

6. Data used to calculate increased staffing

The project team acknowledges that the analysis of additional staffing requirements relates only to additional staffing needed to undertake ‘clinical’ pharmacy services and does not include dispensing services. Likewise the data used is not current and does not include areas of growth such as chemotherapy and renal dialysis services. Thus, initial number of staffing recommended is aimed at stabilizing the current workforce and it is recommended that consideration of further staffing requirements is considered in the future.

7. Use of pre-registration pharmacists

The project team agrees with the view of the PSA that trainees should not be substituted for qualified and experienced pharmacists. To this end, pre-registration pharmacists have been recommended in the second year of implementation once the pharmacy workforce has been stabilized to ensure that pre-registration pharmacists are appropriately supported. The employment of pre-registration allied health staff in regional/rural areas has been shown to be a successful recruitment and retention strategy across a number of allied health professions.

8. Access to PBS

The team acknowledges the benefits of introducing PBS in CHSA. However, at the time the report was written there was not enough current cost/benefit data available to substantiate the introduction of PBS. The collation of such data is a major undertaking outside of the resources allocated to this project. The facilitation of a cost-benefit analysis for the introduction of PBS across CHSA will be a key priority area for the Lead Pharmacist role.

9. Lead Pharmacist role

A decision has not been made as to the location from which the Lead Pharmacist role will be based. As the role will work closely with both SA Health and country pharmacists an argument could be made for the position being located centrally or in a country location. To date the position description reads the location to be “based in Adelaide or country SA location as negotiated”.

Feedback was also given that the job and person specification was vastly different than the role described in the recommendation report. The project team has worked to ensure that the job and person specification is closely aligned to the recommendations of the report, given that implementation of the report recommendations will be a key responsibility of the role. Likewise supporting documentation has been prepared by the project team for the Lead Pharmacist to ensure that the integrity and intent of the report is not lost.

10. Services to Aboriginal patients

The project team agrees with the assertion that further consideration of services to Aboriginal patients is needed. However, the time and resources allocated to the project did not allow further investigation of services to Aboriginal patients or the creation of appropriate policies and strategies. Thus, a decision was made to make this a priority area for further work in conjunction with appropriate key stakeholder.

11. Action plan for implementation

Although the report provides only a high level timeline for implementation of the recommendations (page 32 of the report) it is envisaged that this will be a priority area for the Lead Pharmacist once appointed. As previously stated, further planning documentation drafted by the project will be made available to the Lead Pharmacist to assist in this process.

PSA WORKING FOR MEMBERS IN HEALTH