BALLARAT residents will be among the first in the state to have access to a 24-hour pharmacy and non-emergency health care.
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UFS Pharmacy in Sturt Street will operate as one of five Victorian Government-assisted Supercare Pharmacies from mid-August.
UFS Dispensaries acting chief executive officer Tony Diamond said this was an exciting chance for the not-for-profit operation to offer more options for members and the community it served with round-the-clock care.
The initiative will also feature a free nurse on site from 6pm to 10pm to help treat minor ailments and wounds without appointments.
Mr Diamond said the focus was on offering a safe, convenient and professional after-hours service that would help alleviate pressure on nearby hospital accident and emergency departments at Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital and St John of God Ballarat.
“This will be 24 hours, seven days a week and 365 days of the year – including Christmas,” Mr Diamond said.
“(Traditionally) people with minor health or ailments would have to visit the hospital emergency department or tough it out overnight until a pharmacy opened in the morning. Now they can receive appropriate treatment and advice throughout the night.
“Shift workers can get scripts filled, or if a child’s puffer runs out late at night, you could quickly get a script filled.”
Supercare Pharmacies will also roll out in Ascot Vale, Craigieburn, Wantirna South and Yarraville under a Labor Government $28.7 million plan to have 20 Supercare Pharmacies open across the state by 2018.
Mr Diamond said there were still finer details to be worked out in Ballarat operations and how the pharmacy would fit in with existing late-night health care.
The organisation could start working through details, now the government decision had been finalised this week. This includes filling key positions, for pharmacists and dispensary assistants, for the 24-hour service.
Nurses can assist with basic care such as wound management, as well as physical assessment, flu and whooping cough immunisations, health screening such as blood pressure checks, sexual health advice and referrals to other local services.
Community pharmacists can providing lifestyle, medicinal and minor illness advice but people needing a higher level care are still encouraged to visit a general practitioner or the emergency department.
Mr Diamond said the 24-hour service fit UFS’ strong community focus and community-based programs.
