It’s a typical weekday morningin regional Queensland.
With a troubling cough that haspersisted for several days, 55-year-oldSarah calls for an appointment with herGP. The earliest they can see her is nextThursday afternoon, six days from now.A telehealth appointment is possible, butnot appropriate for her symptoms.Anxious and uncomfortable, she headsto a nearby emergency department,where she waits six hours until seen.
Finally, she is diagnosed with a mildrespiratory infection, prescribed anantibiotic, and released. It’s somethingthat could have been handled by a localpharmacist, too — if only they wereempowered to examine and treat her.