Bomaderry Pharmacy can now test customers’ blood sugar and cholesterol levels as part of an innovative pilot to deliver accessible, affordable health services to the community.

Owner and pharmacist Katrina Farrington says the point-of-care testing pilot program was designed to take pressure off overstretched GPs and hospitals.

Her business, part of Independent Pharmacies of Australia, is one of 29 chemists across the nation offering testing to detect those at risk of diabetes or heart disease, with the simple prick of a finger.

“We get a little spot of your blood and test your glucose and cholesterol levels and you get the results while you’re in the shop,” she said.

“So in 10 minutes you can have two tests done and the results in your hand.

People don’t have to wait weeks at a GP to get these tests or results and they’re not clogging up the emergency department because the pilot is a preventative health care measure based on early detection and treatment.”

Kiama MP Gareth Ward, who visited the pharmacy this week, pointed out that pharmacists were at the coalface of the COVID-19 pandemic, deliver National Immunisation Program vaccines, and provide urinary tract infection treatment for women over 18 across Australia. Point-of-care testing is another feather in a pharmacist’s cap.

“This pilot program showcases how pharmacy-led testing can fill gaps in healthcare access,” he said.

“It also assists in reducing the number of hospital emergency centre admissions and lowers overall healthcare costs for patients which is critical.

“Our local pharmacists are often the backbone of many regions like ours, however, they remain an often-underutilised health resource despite their advanced training,”

Farrington said customers were charged a $20 fee for the testing which was subsidised by a pharmacist program and the manufactures of the testing machines.

“We would like to see governments step up and fund the program long-term, we believe the cost is worth paying because it will save so much money in the long run by preventing people from losing a limb (from diabetes) or ending up in hospital with a heart attack.”