PSA calls for tough stance on abuse

STATE and Territory governments are being urged to enact legislation to combat the rising trend of patients verbally, physically and racially abusing health professionals.

Speaking at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (PSA) weekly COVID-19 webinar last night, National President, Dr Chris Freeman, expressed concern over the rising number of cases of people abusing pharmacists and pharmacy staff.

In his opening address, Freeman called on State and Territory leaders to take a hard-line approach to tackling the growing issue.

“I would note that in Western Australia the Government has taken the lead on this and passed legislation that people who threaten or abuse pharmacists, or any other health professional, can face up to 10 years jail time, which sends a very clear message to people not to be doing that,” he said.

“I have now personally written to each State Premier and Territory Chief Minister, to have that enacted across the country as well.”

Freeman also noted the Federal Government’s announcement that it will make 500,000 surgical face masks available to the pharmacy profession and staff working in pharmacies, through Primary Health Networks.

MEANWHILE, Freeman flagged concerns over the workloads pharmacists have endured in recent weeks, and urged those who can, to take a step back over the Easter long weekend.

“If you can’t have a break over this Easter period, which many of you can’t, then you should be looking forward to in the near future having a bit of respite, because there is no way that the pharmacy profession, and the health sector more broadly can keep going at the pace at which we’re going,” he said.

“I can understand that over the last six to eight weeks we’ve really had to sprint to try to get ourselves ahead of this pandemic, but now is the time to start thinking about how we operate in a more sustainable way.”