OUR PHARMACY SNUB

Geelong overlooked as 24-hour service

GEELONG has been overlooked by the State Government as a priority location for a 24-hour pharmacy.

The Government recently unveiled the final eight locations of its 20, 24-hour Supercare Pharmacies, with Geelong failing to make the list.

The 12 Supercare Pharmacies stores already operating across Victoria provide around-the-clock access to pharmacists for advice, supply of medicines and dispensing prescriptions, and were consid- ered particularly valuable during the thunderstorm asthma event in November.

But despite Geelong being one of the hardest hit — with an unprecedented 108 asthma cases in just six hours recorded at Geelong Hospital — it was not considered a priority.

The region wasn’t completely snubbed, with Curlewis’ inclusion in the first announcement resulting in a Pharmacy 4 Less opening its doors on June 30.

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Jill Hennessy said this serviced Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

“All pharmacies selected to be part of the Supercare Pharmacies initiative were subject to a stringent competitive tender process by the Health Department,” she said.

But the challenge for afterhours health care access continues for Geelong and its northern suburbs, with the latest CBD pharmacy closing doors at 11pm.

In the past week, ambulan- ces have been diverted from Geelong Hospital to local private hospitals, St John of God and the Epworth, to ease pressure on Barwon Health’s swamped emergency department. A surge in respiratory and flu-related illnesses was to blame for the rise in presentations.

The 24-hour pharmacy could have eased the nighttime load on Geelong Hospital’s emergency department, with about 30 per cent of Supercare Pharmacy visitors say- ing they would have gone to a local hospital if the service was not available.

“Like every single one of our hospitals — Geelong hospitals have been under pressure this flu season. That’s why we took action and enlisted private hospitals in Geelong — St John of God and Epworth — to help ease demand during peak times,” the spokeswoman for Ms Hennessy said.

“Geelong hospitals — as well as local pharmacies — have risen to the challenge this flu season, dedicating significant resources to ensure local patients continue to receive the care they need, when they need it.”

Since July 2016 there have been more than 81,000 visits to Supercare Pharmacies between 10pm and 7am.

The facility would have brought with it a free on-site nurse service which provides face-to-face health advice and treatment for minor injuries or illness, wound management, flu and whooping cough immunisations, health screening, sexual advice and referrals to other services.