Page 46 - RPA May 2020

44 HEALTH WOUND CARE
Pharmacies are often frequented as the first port of call for people with wounds, especially in view of their opening hours, location, OTC and other products, and the relationship that pharmacists have with the community.
This is according to Gary Bain, Nurse Consultant and Principal at The Wound Guy.
He says the pharmacy-first mission is especially the case in rural and remote areas that lack easy access to GPs.
“A few weeks back, I chatted to a pharmacist in Geraldton, Western Australia, whose nearest GP, 80km away, only visits once every three weeks, and a nurse only weekly,” Mr Bain said.
“This pharmacist is inundated with patients, from the diabetic who comes in for a blood sugar check to people who need immunisations and wound care.”
According to Paul Jones, proprietor of Moodies Pharmacy in Bathurst, NSW, patients often present with wounds sustained a few days previously and want to know whether they have become infected.
Other frequent presentations at the pharmacy involve children who have suffered bumps and scrapes.
“We see a lot of different wounds,
and requests for wound care dressings,” Mr Jones said.
“A consultation room provides space for a patient to sit down and for the pharmacist to attend to the wound and/
or triage, then refer the patient to a GP or hospital if necessary.
“Pharmacists are able to make the assessment and refer the patient on
if need be. To do this, it’s best the pharmacist is upskilled based on practical training, to best treat a wound.
“From a business point of view, this not only grows the wound care/first aid section but is also another service that the pharmacy can charge for, depending on the time taken and utilisation of a consultation room.”
Pharmacist Lia Mahony, at Tamworth Discount Drugstore, NSW, says she “sees it all when it comes to wounds” – from accidents, dog bites and blisters
to stabbings.
“Someone came in only last week
RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAR 2020
WOUND CARE
NEVER A STRAIGHTFORWARD BUSINESS
By Nerine Zoio.