The recent Medicine Safety Report published by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia highlights these concerns.  It is estimated in Australia that 250000 people are hospitalised annually and a further 400000 present to emergency departments as a result of not taking necessary prescribed medications, medication errors, incorrect medication device technique, misadventure, interactions and inappropriate use.  At least half of these hospital presentations are considered avoidable. It is estimated that this costs our economy $1.4billion annually.  So, it is widespread and it is a very significant issue in our community.  If it hasn’t affected you directly it will have affected someone in your family or someone you know. And, really, it is not hard to believe when we already know that 50% of people stop their cholesterol lowering medication within 2 years of starting it without the knowledge of their GP and up to 80% of people use their asthma inhalers incorrectly.

So, what can we do about it?

There are a number of steps you can take to reduce your chances of being in this group.  Obviously, taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor is a good starting point.  Beyond this, speak to your pharmacist and your doctor often about your medications.  If you are not sure how to take something or whether you should still be taking something, speak to us.  If you think you may be having a reaction to a medication, or you are not sure if your medications go well together, ask us. If you are using any medication devices (inhalers, injections etc) ask us to check your technique to ensure you are getting optimal benefit from your treatment. We have a team of pharmacists that are more than happy to speak with you about your medications to address any issues. 

We also have a number of services available to assist you in managing your medications.  These include:

• Webster packing – if you or someone in your family is taking multiple medications and it has become confusing, we can organise the medications into a weekly pack with dosage times and days all set out for you.
• Medication checks – bring all of your medicines in and we can sit down with you and run through them all checking for correct doses, interactions and side effects as well as answering any queries you may have.
• Home medicine reviews – under referral from your GP we can come out to your home and review all of your medications in the comfort of your own home.  We will check for any issues and, in consultation with your GP, we will ensure you are on the optimal medication regimen for your health conditions.

We know that nearly a quarter of the Australian population have been affected by this in some way.  We also know that many of these people have had an adverse consequence simply because they weren’t taking necessary medications as prescribed or they weren’t using a device correctly, meaning they didn’t get the benefit of the medicine.  The result is avoidable poorer health. If you are not sure or would like to know more please come and speak with us.  Medications are our speciality and a brief conversation with us could help avert serious health consequences.

Services at your pharmacy

At the Palm Springs Pharmacy we can help you with more than just your medicines.  We are proud to offer you our expert services across a variety of health areas.  Our highly trained and caring pharmacists work with you and your doctor to help you and your family reach the best possible health outcomes.

Home Medicine Review and In-store Medicine Review - Sit down one on one with a pharmacist to review your medications. We can help you understand your medicines better and address any problem areas.  We can do this in the pharmacy or in the comfort of your own home.

Naturopathic Services - Take the time to meet with one of our naturopaths to address a specific issue or review the overall health of your body.  Through our Port Kennedy Pharmacy our naturopath team is available to help.  Phone 95246909 to make an appointment.

Home Delivery Service - Can’t get to us? No problem, we will come to you!  If you would like your medicines delivered please just call the pharmacy on 9593 1998.

Podiatry Services - Foot care, particularly for diabetics, is a crucial part of good health management.  Through our Warnbro Pharmacy we offer podiatry services that are funded by both Medicare and private health insurers. 

Sleep Apnoea - Do you snore? Do you feel overly tired during the day? Does someone else tell you that you stop breathing when you sleep?  If you answer yes to any of these questions you may have sleep apnoea.  We can help you have this properly assessed and treated.

Websterpacked medications - Are you or someone you know struggling a little to manage your medicines?  Taking the right pill at the right time can be challenging when you are taking multiple medications.  We can make this easy for you by providing your medications prepacked according to time and day. 

Compounding - If you require a medication specifically tailored to you we can compound it for you.  From bio-identical hormones to veterinary products to discontinued medicines, we can help.

We look forward to seeing you in the pharmacy soon.

PS – A further personal thankyou to everyone who has been kind enough to donate to my ride to raise money for the local children’s brain cancer unit both online and through our donation tins instore.  The total is now over $7000 with 8 weeks to go. See the total and the story here:  https://235damsride.gofundraise.com.au/page/DavidDOrazio