Tuesday, 19 September, 2023
Lilydale
Kilsyth dog park petition submitted
Controversial Coldstream planning permit approved
Splash parks, first day of the season
Celebrating over 50s with Poetic Portraits
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A Star News Group Publication
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
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Garden oasis
John Findlay’s Tuscan inspired garden Orvieto will be featured in the Open Gardens Victoria weekend in October. 360501
Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Nestled in the streets of Lilydale is a secret garden, overlooking the expanse of the Lake and Dandenong Ranges. With pathways winding all through the lush green foliage, a sense of calmness is bestowed upon its visitor, of which there are expected to be hundreds when the Tuscan inspired garden opens to the public for Open Gardens Victoria on Sunday 1 October. Owner John Findlay has spent years planting and caring for the acre block site that was once a rocky slope. It has now been transformed into an oasis amongst suburbia. To read more turn to page 9
Concern realised Since the start of September, changes to the way medications are dispensed to customers has begun causing somewhat of a headache to pharmacists. Amcal Lilydale co-owner Frank Kazantzis said while the push for the 60 day dispensing policy was strong, the education of customers has been weak, seeing those in need of longer scripts unsure how to access it. “The government seemed to be quite happy
to promote the benefit to patients but not actually explain to them what they needed to do which is a little frustrating,” he said. “There really wasn’t any understanding in the community about how it works. For us, rather than seeing a lot of the scripts, it’s more having the conversations with customers and explaining to them exactly what it means for them.” Concerns are also growing about who is getting access to 60 day dispensing, which Frank said was meant for people who are stable and
have required the same prescription over a long period of time. “We’re seeing doctors write 60 day scripts for people that are starting on a new medication or writing a 60 day script with minimum repeats,” Frank said. Discussions between the Federal government and the major pharmacy bodies in Australia have begun early to establish the next community pharmacy agreement, something Frank said he hopes will address some of the issues pharmacists have with the 60 day dis-
pensing policy. “We’re hoping that as it rolls out the government response to the data flowing through shows that maybe some more restrictions need to be put in place. So if they are prescribing 60 day scripts that they are also for the full six months repeat or 12 months repeat.” Community pharmacy agreements also address the return pharmacies get from the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) and the renumeration for immunisations. For the full story, turn to page 3
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By Mikayla van Loon