South Australian women will soon be able to access medication for a urinary tract infection and a resupply of their oral contraceptive pill through a local pharmacy, without needing a doctor's appointment.
From March next year, women aged 18 to 65 suffering from an uncomplicated UTI will be able to speak to trained community pharmacists for diagnosis and access to a one-off course of antibiotics, if they meet certain clinical criteria.
Women with recurrent infections, additional symptoms, or those at risk of complications would be referred to their GP for further assessment.
In a further boost for women's healthcare, from May next year, women will also be able to obtain a resupply of their oral contraceptive pill from trained community pharmacies without a prescription.
The introduction of these new measures will put patients first and provide faster access to care while helping to ease pressure on hospital emergency departments and wait times to see a GP.
Every community pharmacy in South Australia will be able to take part in additional training to offer the new program which is modelled on services already operating in other states.
These measures were key recommendations made by a South Australian parliamentary committee, chaired by Member for Badcoe Jayne Stinson, which investigated UTIs and access to treatment for women in SA.
The Government is accepting and moving to implement all the recommendations of the committee.
UTIs are very common and can be extremely painful, affecting up to 50 per cent of South Australian women and resulting in nearly 9000 hospital emergency department presentations each year.
The Select Committee on Access to UTI Treatment received 151 submissions, with around 80 per cent in favour of a community pharmacy treatment program. The Committee heard from many women who expressed their frustration with painful symptoms while being unable to access timely advice and treatment.
Symptoms of UTIs can include pain or burning while urinating, frequent urination, feeling the need to urinate despite having an empty bladder, and pressure or cramping in the groin or lower abdomen.
A review of the service will be undertaken after two years to ensure it is operating as expected. More information can be found here.
As put by Chris Picton
We know it's increasingly challenging for South Australians to get a GP appointment at short notice, particularly after hours, on weekends and in regional areas.
If UTIs aren't treated promptly, they can cause very painful and debilitating symptoms and result in people ending up in hospital.
Under these changes, pharmacists with additional training will be able to provide a consultation and, where appropriate, provide UTI treatment or a resupply of the Pill under strict eligibility criteria.
This will allow timely care for South Australian women, while also helping to alleviate pressure on our GPs and emergency departments.
As put by Jayne Stinson MP, Chair of the Inquiry into Access to UTI Treatment
Women across our state will be incredibly relieved to find out they'll soon be able to quickly and easily relieve the pain of a UTI.
As a UTI sufferer, I know the enormous difference this scheme will make to the lives of thousands of women – relieving pain, anxiety, expense and loss of income.
The nine-month bipartisan parliamentary inquiry I led strongly recommended a pharmacy-based scheme for SA, and we applaud the Minister for acting swiftly.
As put by SA Branch President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Nick Panayiaris
We welcome this announcement to allow community pharmacists to safely and promptly dispense medication for uncomplicated and often painful UTIs as well as resupply the oral contraceptive pill when appropriate. It brings us in line with other states.
This will enable community pharmacists to support South Australian women particularly in regional and remote areas to get quicker access to important treatment and medication when they need it.
The Labor Government continues to recognise the valuable role that community pharmacy can play in the health of all South Australians. This is another example of how better utilisation of appropriately trained health professionals can ease the burden on our health system.
As put by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia SA/NT Branch President Dr Manya Angley
PSA welcomes Minister Picton's move to give South Australians greater access to safe health care when and where they need it. Pharmacists in South Australia will be able to better support contraceptive adherence as well as saving patients time and money.
Pharmacists are key to strengthening the health care system. Regional and rural communities across South Australia will benefit enormously from being able to access treatment from their local pharmacist, freeing up our hardworking rural GPs for more complex patient needs.
We know that around half of women will experience a UTI in their lifetime, and that timely access to treatment is key to alleviating discomfort and preventing further complications or hospitalisation.
As put by Chief Pharmacist Naomi Burgess
Supporting women to access effective treatment for uncomplicated UTIs through early access to pharmacist advice and assessment aims to reduce the impact of these painful conditions which can impact a person's ability to work, study and take part in everyday activities.
These new services will better utilise the professional skills of pharmacists, enhancing community access to assessment and to treatments under agreed guidelines which until now have only been available with a prescription.
This will provide women with an additional avenue to seek advice for the safe and prompt treatment of some UTIs. Additionally, it will complement existing GP and health services, promoting early referral for those with complex conditions.
As put by Star Discount Chemist Pharmacist Samantha Gardiakos
Star Discount Chemist welcomes the Government's announcement to make UTI medication and Pill prescriptions readily available to South Australians.
We're here to help and know this increased role by pharmacists will help reduce the burden on the healthcare system, making medication more accessible and reducing unnecessary hospital visits.
