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Newcastle Residents Access Convenient Pharmacy Care for Common Skin Conditions

today29 January 2025

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In a significant advancement for local healthcare, Newcastle residents can now receive prompt treatment for common skin conditions directly from participating community pharmacies. This initiative is part of the NSW Pharmacy Dermatology Trial, which has recently surpassed its six-month milestone.

The trial empowers trained pharmacists to manage minor skin ailments, including impetigo (school sores), shingles, mild to moderate eczema, and acute mild plaque psoriasis. Participating pharmacies in the greater Hunter region include:

  • Abermain Pharmacy, Abermain
  • Amcal+ Salamander Bay, Salamander Bay
  • Belmont Pharmacy, Belmont
  • Blooms the Chemist Green Hills, East Maitland
  • Blooms the Chemist Raymond Terrace, Raymond Terrace
  • Branxton Pharmacy, Branxton
  • Cardiff Pharmacy, Cardiff
  • Cessnock Pharmacy, Cessnock
  • City Pharmacy, Newcastle
  • Darby Street Pharmacy, Cooks Hill
  • Denman Pharmacy, Denman
  • Docs Megasave Chemist, Newcastle
  • Georgetown Pharmacy, Georgetown
  • Hamilton Pharmacy, Hamilton
  • Hamilton South Pharmacy, Hamilton South
  • Jesmond Pharmacy, Jesmond
  • Kurri Kurri Pharmacy, Kurri Kurri
  • Lambton Pharmacy, Lambton
  • Maitland Pharmacy, Maitland
  • Mayfield Pharmacy, Mayfield
  • Merewether Pharmacy, Merewether
  • Morisset Pharmacy, Morisset
  • Murrurundi Pharmacy, Murrurundi
  • Muswellbrook Pharmacy, Muswellbrook
  • New Lambton Pharmacy, New Lambton
  • Newcastle West Pharmacy, Newcastle West
  • Piggotts Pharmacy on the Hill, Cooks Hill
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Charlestown
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Georgetown
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Hamilton
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Hamilton South
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Jesmond
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Lambton
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Maitland
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Mayfield
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Merewether
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Morisset
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Murrurundi
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Muswellbrook
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Newcastle West
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, New Lambton
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Scone
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Singleton
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Swansea
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Toronto
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Wallsend
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Waratah
  • Piggotts Pharmacy, Rutherford
  • Simply Pharmacy Stockton, Stockton
  • Scone Pharmacy, Scone
  • Singleton Pharmacy, Singleton
  • TerryWhite Chemmart, Hamilton
  • Toronto Pharmacy, Toronto
  • Waratah Village Amcal Pharmacy, Waratah
  • Wallsend Pharmacy, Wallsend

Statewide, nearly 1,500 individuals have benefited from this service, with over 480 pharmacies currently participating.

This dermatology trial builds upon previous initiatives where authorised pharmacists provided consultations for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and resupplied oral contraceptive pills (OCP). Since June 2024, pharmacists have been offering UTI services as part of their regular practice, and OCP resupply since September. These measures have provided thousands of people across NSW with the option of conveniently obtaining prescriptions through their local pharmacist, relieving pressure on general practitioners (GPs) and freeing up GP appointments for those who need them most.

The NSW Government is committed to innovative pathways outside the hospital system, including empowering pharmacists to provide care for selected common conditions, delivering more urgent care services and clinics, expanding virtual care services, and supporting bulk-billing in NSW by providing payroll tax relief to GP clinics.

Tim Crakanthorp MP, State Member for Newcastle, emphasised the trial’s significance:

“This trial is an important step in ensuring more people in our community have access to health services and treatments. Instead of struggling to find a GP appointment to get a script for a minor skin condition, Novocastrians will be able to save time by going to a local pharmacy to receive the care they need.”

Residents are encouraged to consult with participating local pharmacies for the management of these common skin conditions, ensuring timely and accessible care within the community.

Written by: Newy Staff


Newy 87.8 FM is an FM radio station established in 2014 targeting Classic Hits music enthusiasts across Newcastle and The Central Coast, Australia. The station plays 60s 70s and 80s music. The station can be streamed online via this website or smart phone apps such as Tunein. In 2024 we opened a local newsroom dedicated to publishing Newcastle News.