When Alvin Thompkins graduated from pharmacy school 22 years ago, he had a vision of what he wanted to do. Starting Wednesday, that vision will come true.
“This is something we’ve been waiting for for a long time,” Tompkins told reporters and officials gathered at his pharmacy in Dartmouth, New South Wales, on Tuesday.
The Thompkins site is one of 12 pharmacies that will begin offering free appointments to the public in February. For the management of mild and chronic diseases.
In the past, such consultations were paid.
The appointments at the 12 facilities were made by the state government with the aim of expanding people’s access to primary care at a time when emergency departments are overwhelmed and about 130,000 people are waiting for a family doctor or nurse. Funded.
The expanded service was first touched upon earlier this month when the state government announced it. A Series of Changes to Address Emergency Department Pressure.
Each pharmacy, which had to fund its own renovations to accommodate the clinic space, paid a monthly Receive $7,000.
Health Minister Michelle Thompson told reporters, “It doesn’t mean that the events at the counter will go away, but it’s really an additional resource.”
“My point is that the funding model has caught up with the scope of practice to enable pharmacists to provide primary care.”
Opening clinics in areas with high needs
The 12 sites were selected based on the regions of the state with the greatest need for primary care services. Thompson said he expects the number of participating pharmacies to expand in the spring.
Alison Bodner, chief executive of the Nova Scotia Pharmacy Association, called the setup a model for the future. The clinic will offer 40-hour appointments in 15-minute blocks each week. People will be able to book appointments for the day online or by phone.
Bodnar predicts that the clinic will also help with recruitment.
“When it comes to this range of work, pharmacists have been trained to work this way for the better part of 20, 25 years and hope to be able to put their skills to good use in this country and elsewhere. I waited desperately.”
The expanded service is only available at pharmacies participating in the pilot, All Nova Scotia pharmacies offer some free servicesIncludes treatment and prescription of uncomplicated bladder infections, shingles, and contraception.
Bodnar said the program recognizes and expands the role of pharmacists in the public health system.
Pharmacies participating in the pilot
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 118 Wyse Rd., Dartmouth
- Guardian Bedford, 535 Larry Uteck Blvd., Bedford
- North Sydney Pharmachoice, 107 King Street, North Sydney
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 254 Prince Street, Sydney
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 912 East River Rd., New Glasgow
- The Medicine Shoppe, 664 Prince St., Truro
- Wilson’s Pharmasave, 213 Commercial Street, Berwick
- Bridgewater Guardian Pharmacy, 42 Glen Allan Dr., Bridgewater
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 1124 Bridge Street, Greenwood
- TLC Pharmasave, 157 Water St., Shelburne
- City Drugstore, 369 Main Street, Yarmouth
- Brookline Pharmacy at 105-6 Bloom Lane, Bedford (reservations open late February)
