Reporting mechanisms for pharmacy pilot
AMA Queensland wrote to the Chief Medical Officer to express our extreme disappointment at the government's decision to expand the North Queensland Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot state-wide and enquire about formal feedback mechanisms for patients harmed under this program.
We made clear that it is essential these feedback mechanisms are separate from, and in addition to, the complaints processes handled by the Office of the Health Ombudsman (the ‘OHO’) or the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (‘Ahpra’).
Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine McDougall responded and advised that the Quality and Safety Framework for the pilot has now been finalised and signed off by the Governance Board. They plan to establish multiple mechanisms for consumers and health practitioners to provide feedback, and for this feedback to be managed, investigated, and responded to quickly and appropriately.