GPs, surgeons and physicians have joined forces to demand that the NSW Government suspend its planned expansion of pharmacist prescribing into chronic disease.

With the backing of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the State Government has said it will allow pharmacists to diagnose, prescribe and dispense for hypertension, COPD, ear infection and wound care, as well as hormonal contraceptives.

In a joint letter to NSW Premier Chris Minns, five medical groups say they are alarmed and have called for an immediate pause on the rollout until an independent evaluation of Queensland’s pharmacy prescribing pilot is completed and publicly released.

They say the expansion was announced only days after NSW Minister for Health Ryan Parks and his fellow state ministers agreed there was a need for updated guidance for national boards on S4 prescribing.