Thousands of people across NSW will be able to access treatment for ear infections, wound management, nausea, gastro, acne, muscle and joint pain at their local pharmacy, boosting access to fast, convenient heathcare across NSW.

Health Minister Ryan Park announced at the Pharmacy Guild’s Pharmacy Connect Conference in Sydney recently that work is underway to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice including the following conditions:

• Acute otitis media (middle ear infection)
• Acute otitis externa (outer ear infection) 
• Acute minor wound management
• Acute nausea and vomiting
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) 
• Mild to moderate acne
• Mild, acute musculoskeletal pain 

​Subject to appropriate training and ongoing work in implementation work, the expanded service delivery could commence as soon as 2026.

“We know that it is becoming more difficult to access a GP than ever before, with people often waiting days or even weeks before they can find an appointment," NSW Health Minister Ryan Park (pictured above) said.

“By empowering pharmacists to undertake consultations on more conditions, we can relieve the pressure on GPs and end the wait times. 

“People should be able to access treatment as and when they need it, and the expansion of this important initiative will improve access to care.” 

NSW Health is consulting with universities on the development of suitable training as well as the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia on request supports for pharmacists including: 

• Condition specific training; and
• Upskilling in clinical assessment, diagnosis, management and clinical documentation.

NSW Health has also agreed to authorise individual pharmacists who have successful completed the Queensland pilot training to deliver selected services in NSW from January 2025 onwards.

More than 490 pharmacies across the state have participated in the oral contraceptive pill trial since it began, delivering more than 1,800 consultations to women in NSW. 

This follows the successful completion of the first phase of the trial in May 2024, which saw more than 3,300 NSW pharmacists provide more than 18,000 consultations to women aged 18 to 65 with symptoms of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI). The UTI service transitioned to usual pharmacy care from 1 June 2024. 

The third and final phase of the trial allowing pharmacists to manage common minor skin conditions is underway and will be running until early 2025. 

A detailed evaluation of all three phases of the NSW Pharmacy Trial will be provided to NSW Health in 2025 and will inform future expansion of services.

Expanding the scope of practice of pharmacists forms part of the NSW Government’s broader efforts to alleviate pressure on GPs. 

According to the Federal Department of Health & Aged Care, there were fewer GPs in NSW in 2023 than there were in 2019. 

The GP shortage is having a significant impact on the state’s emergency departments. 

While the Minister for Health continues to work with the Commonwealth on the challenges facing primary care, for its part, the NSW Government just this week announced the commencement of its Bulk Billing Support initiative. 

It also follows the NSW Government’s half a billion dollar emergency department relief package announced in the state budget in June, which seeks to build more pathways to care outside the hospital, as well as improving patient flow within our hospitals.