PROFESSIONAL Pharmacists Australia (PPA) members in NT government hospitals are set to vote early next week on taking industrial action, unless high pharmacist vacancy rates – which potentially undermine patient welfare and safety – are urgently addressed.

Royal Darwin Hospital and Alice Springs Hospital are currently operating with a 30% vacancy rate.

Meanwhile, Katherine Hospital is facing the potential closure of its pharmacy department as it is unable to find qualified staff, despite ongoing recruitment efforts.

The closure would affect chemotherapy patients and threatens the NT’s regional cancer care services, with Royal Darwin Hospital – which has its own staffing issues – working on contingency plans.

PPA members have asked for an attraction and retention allowance and improvements to base pay rates and conditions as part of enterprise agreement negotiations.

They said the offer put forward by the NT Government was not adequate, and the state’s Health Minister Steve Edgington has declined to meet with representatives.

“Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are being ignored by the NT Government, even though evidence shows that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians keep bed flow moving and capacity open,” said PPA President Leon Yap. KB

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