Latest news with #SAHealth
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
SA Police make new claims about Royston Park arrest incident
South Australian police allege a man who became unresponsive while being arrested on Thursday morning 'violently resisted' officers, as an investigation continues into the actions taken during the incident. Police attempted to arrest a 42-year-old Modbury North man on Payneham Road about 2:45am on Thursday, after saying they witnessed an "altercation" occurring between a man and a woman. Police said the man "became unresponsive" as they attempted to arrest him. He was taken to hospital where his condition has not yet been disclosed by SA Police or SA Health. Police are investigating the incident and the actions of officers at the scene. In an updated statement released on Thursday afternoon, provided to the ABC today, police alleged the man "was assaulting a female" when they intervened. "While being restrained the man violently resisted police," SA Police alleged. "After being restrained he became unresponsive and police administered first aid until SAAS (SA Ambulance Service) arrived." SA Police said its investigation into the matter will examine "all evidence", including the body-worn video of the officers involved. "The investigation and assessment of all evidence will determine the appropriateness of the actions taken by the officers," the statement said. Police said earlier on Thursday that no-one was shot and no taser was used. The incident prompted the closure of Payneham Road between Lambert Road and Lower Portrush Road on Thursday morning. The roads have since reopened.
ABC News
13-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
SA Health apologises to man waiting nine days at RAH for broken leg surgery
SA Health has apologised to a Port Lincoln man left waiting for nine days for surgery on his broken leg at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Stephen Rees, a father of two toddlers, was airlifted from Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula to the RAH on May 4 after shattering bones in his lower leg and severely dislocating his ankle in a football game the day before. Central Adelaide Local Health Network's executive director of operations and performance, Rachael Kay, said the medical team had assessed his injury each day and "determined that he was clinically ready for surgery on Friday, May 9". "I would like to apologise to Mr Rees and understand this must be frustrating." Mr Rees said he had fasted each morning and sometimes all day in preparation for surgery but was bumped each time by a more urgent case. "[I'm] fed up — I just want to get home and see my family," he said. After a nine-day wait, Mr Rees was wheeled in for surgery on Tuesday morning and the operation went well. The day before, Mr Rees was told the RAH was looking into having him transferred to a private hospital for the operation, where he understood it would be paid for by the public health system. Prior to this, Mr Rees' family had been making enquiries about getting the surgery done privately despite him not having private cover just to get him home. "Other than that, my options were to sit here and wait. "I've just sort of had enough … they kept just bumping me and saying there's other more important cases than me even though I've been here for over a week." Mr Rees said his two legs bones needed to be screwed back together because they were separated. "The small bone in my leg is shattered, essentially, so they need to piece it back together and [put in] a couple of plates and a heap of screws," he said. Mr Rees said one of the nurses had advised him generally, after three days, a patient's case was escalated to improve the chances of surgery.
Herald Sun
10-05-2025
- Health
- Herald Sun
South Australia: Priority Care Centres looking after SA's health
It is every mother's worst nightmare when their newborn baby has difficulty breathing. For 27-year-old mother-of-three Talisha Wagner, it became reality when faced with her five-month-old daughter Paisley struggling to breathe. Calling the healthdirect helpline, Wagner was advised to immediately head to hospital or the Elizabeth Medical and Dental Centre, where she could access urgent care services for her daughter. Paisley was then referred to and treated at the Elizabeth Priority Care Centre, a centre her mum was previously unaware of. Faced with a daunting wait in a hospital emergency department, she chose to try the clinic, where the young family was in and out in 90 minutes armed with a diagnosis and the information necessary to tackle the problem facing the newborn. 'It's happened before and we have taken her to the hospital – twice,' Wagner explains. Paisley's condition – known as laryngomalacia – is caused by floppiness of the laryngeal tissues above the vocal cords. When breathing in, the tissues above the vocal cords fall in towards the airway, causing partial obstruction. The doctor quickly diagnosed the issue, which Paisley will eventually grow out of as she gets bigger and her muscles become stronger. 'They taught me different ways for her to swallow to kind of bring it back,' Wagner says. 'It was really great as they showed me what to do in the event it happens again. 'Now she wears a sock monitor so I can keep a close eye on it.' SA Health, in partnership with the Adelaide Primary Health Network and general practices, established four Priority Care Centres across metropolitan Adelaide in Marion, Elizabeth, Para Hills West and Hindmarsh, with an additional centre located in Mount Barker. These centres provide vital community-based healthcare and treatment for eligible patients such as Paisley and her mother with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions who would otherwise be seeking treatment at a hospital emergency department. The referral-based centres can also provide a range of other services including radiology, pathology and pharmacy services, and can refer on for follow-up care. Patients who are eligible for Medicare can also access a Priority Care Centre at no cost. Talisha Wagner is a big advocate for the centres. 'Absolutely, they were amazing,' she says. 'It's not as chaotic as an emergency department and from my experience I think they have more time to be thorough and you're not having to wait around for hours on end to get the help you need.' New service is a breath of fresh air to consumers Carolyn Ohijenko was taken to the Urgent Care Hub with respiratory issues. Picture: Russell Millard When Carolyn Ohijenko was having difficulty breathing, the 70-year-old feared yet another trip to the emergency department and the potential of a lengthy wait. Recently diagnosed with asthma, Ohijenko was having problems managing her breathing along with her medications, when ambulance officers were called to her home. Upon assessment they made a call to the SA Health Urgent Care Hub-Playford clinic, a new, dedicated out-of-hospital healthcare service, next door to the Lyell McEwin Hospital. Part of the SA Health Urgent Care Hubs, these referral-only services provide various, rapid assessments and acute care for patients whose care needs are unable to be met by primary care providers and would otherwise need to visit an emergency department. After spending up to 18 hours in departments in the past, Ohijenko was blown away by the speed and care she received at the Urgent Care Hub. 'I'm new to having experiences of bronchial asthma and after my first episode which took me to emergency, I was very scared,' she explains. 'I would have these coughing spasms and despite having the medications, they didn't seem to be working. The second time the ambulance came to my home – they were the ones who rang the new hub, which I found very fascinating.' Just a week earlier in mid-March, Ohijenko had similar breathing problems and was taken to an emergency department. She says the experience at the hub was much smoother and more comfortable. 'I was very impressed with the whole area, the medical staff and how well they looked after me,' she says. 'It was very attentive and immediate. I didn't have to sit in a plastic chair and wait to see someone. As an older person that is very uncomfortable. The people were looking after me from the moment I entered the place and they had all my complete medical history in front of them and could look after me straight away.' Located in Sefton Plaza, Woodville, Playford (Elizabeth) and Daw Park, the SA Health Urgent Care Hub multidisciplinary teams are made up of nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists, social workers, podiatrists, occupational therapists and dietitians. It is a referral-only service, received from SA Ambulance Service, SA Virtual Care Service, general practitioners and community health care providers, while non-government organisations or consumers can even be redirected from emergency departments. Ohijenko says these hubs take some of the strain off our emergency departments. 'For us older people, we have complex issues, so sometimes we don't have a choice but to make an emergency call,' she explains. 'I would 100 per cent use the services again. They did everything they could for me, from showing me how to use the medications properly to making recommendations to my local GP. They were great.' Been there, lived that Jess Rolevink, peer practice lead at the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre. Picture: Russell Millard Jess Rolevink speaks with authority about the crucial role peer support plays in helping people deal with their mental health challenges. As the peer practice lead at the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre, she sees every day the impact empathy and understanding from people with lived experience has on those who may be struggling with issues such as extreme anxiety and depression. And she only wishes the service – designed to help give people the care they need when they need it to keep them out of hospitals – existed when she was dealing with her own distress. 'During my teenage years and my twenties, I really struggled with anxiety and depression quite badly,' she says. 'It was so hard to get help. I was in and out of hospitals. 'That was it back then – there was no such thing as valuing lived experience. For me, my experience was one of isolation and of feeling judged. There was no one there that could say to me, 'you know what Jess, I get it. I absolutely get what you've been through and you're going to be OK'. 'I never experienced that and so this is why this role is so important. It just helps so much.' Rolevink works with a team of 25 peer support workers and a similar number of clinicians at the walk-in Elizabeth centre, described as 'a welcoming place for people to access mental health information, services and supports from qualified professionals over extended hours.' Anyone can reach out for support for themselves, a loved one, friend, colleague or community contact. The service is free and no appointment, referral or Medicare card is needed. Similar centres are in Adelaide, Mount Barker, Mount Gambier and Port Pirie. Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre operations lead Rebecca Ljubic says all five centres are tailored to meet the needs of their local communities. 'When people experience a mental health crisis or distress they often turn to a hospital and emergency department and that's not always the best fit, given EDs are really tailored for physical health needs, and not so much mental health needs,' she says. The service aims to – where appropriate – provide immediate support to reduce distress; provide in-house assessment, treatment and support; and connect people with the most appropriate ongoing support. Ljubic says the focus is on providing a 'warm and welcoming' space, far removed from a cold, clinical setting. 'There's a lounge room environment for people, all the consulting rooms are very low stimulus, there's mood lighting,' she says. 'It's relaxed and comforting to help support people in a homelike, relaxing sort of environment.' There has been growing local demand for the service. 'For our immediate access – the walk-in component of our service – we are currently seeing more than 300 people a month. And that's just stepping up and up and up each month.' Ljubic agrees the 'peer-first' lived experience component of the service helps provide a balanced and holistic care model. 'A lot of people come into the service feeling distressed, in crisis and hopeless but having that peer connection – having someone there who believes in them – helps them to regain some of that hope,' she says. 'Not everyone requires clinical intervention either. Some people might come in and they'll be able to talk with a peer and talk it through. 'Some may come in and might have some very serious things happening in their life where safety is concerned. That's where a clinician will become involved and provide some support around some of those more complex situations.' Rolevink says hearing others talk about their own lived experience in a 'purposeful and authentic way' can have a powerful effect – and reflects again on the lack of post-hospital care during her own mental health journey. 'What I would have loved back then would have been a combination – someone with lived experience and someone with the clinical know-how to essentially walk alongside me. And that's what we do here.' The Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre, at 23 Gillingham Rd, Elizabeth, is open 8.30am to 10.30pm on weekdays and noon to 6.30pm on weekends and public holidays. Details: medicaremental Originally published as New care centres are making the health of South Australians a priority
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
New care centres are making the health of South Australians a priority
It is every mother's worst nightmare when their newborn baby has difficulty breathing. For 27-year-old mother-of-three Talisha Wagner, it became reality when faced with her five-month-old daughter Paisley struggling to breathe. Calling the healthdirect helpline, Wagner was advised to immediately head to hospital or the Elizabeth Medical and Dental Centre, where she could access urgent care services for her daughter. Paisley was then referred to and treated at the Elizabeth Priority Care Centre, a centre her mum was previously unaware of. Faced with a daunting wait in a hospital emergency department, she chose to try the clinic, where the young family was in and out in 90 minutes armed with a diagnosis and the information necessary to tackle the problem facing the newborn. 'It's happened before and we have taken her to the hospital – twice,' Wagner explains. Paisley's condition – known as laryngomalacia – is caused by floppiness of the laryngeal tissues above the vocal cords. When breathing in, the tissues above the vocal cords fall in towards the airway, causing partial obstruction. The doctor quickly diagnosed the issue, which Paisley will eventually grow out of as she gets bigger and her muscles become stronger. 'They taught me different ways for her to swallow to kind of bring it back,' Wagner says. 'It was really great as they showed me what to do in the event it happens again. 'Now she wears a sock monitor so I can keep a close eye on it.' SA Health, in partnership with the Adelaide Primary Health Network and general practices, established four Priority Care Centres across metropolitan Adelaide in Marion, Elizabeth, Para Hills West and Hindmarsh, with an additional centre located in Mount Barker. These centres provide vital community-based healthcare and treatment for eligible patients such as Paisley and her mother with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions who would otherwise be seeking treatment at a hospital emergency department. The referral-based centres can also provide a range of other services including radiology, pathology and pharmacy services, and can refer on for follow-up care. Patients who are eligible for Medicare can also access a Priority Care Centre at no cost. Talisha Wagner is a big advocate for the centres. 'Absolutely, they were amazing,' she says. 'It's not as chaotic as an emergency department and from my experience I think they have more time to be thorough and you're not having to wait around for hours on end to get the help you need.' New service is a breath of fresh air to consumers When Carolyn Ohijenko was having difficulty breathing, the 70-year-old feared yet another trip to the emergency department and the potential of a lengthy wait. Recently diagnosed with asthma, Ohijenko was having problems managing her breathing along with her medications, when ambulance officers were called to her home. Upon assessment they made a call to the SA Health Urgent Care Hub-Playford clinic, a new, dedicated out-of-hospital healthcare service, next door to the Lyell McEwin Hospital. Part of the SA Health Urgent Care Hubs, these referral-only services provide various, rapid assessments and acute care for patients whose care needs are unable to be met by primary care providers and would otherwise need to visit an emergency department. After spending up to 18 hours in departments in the past, Ohijenko was blown away by the speed and care she received at the Urgent Care Hub. 'I'm new to having experiences of bronchial asthma and after my first episode which took me to emergency, I was very scared,' she explains. 'I would have these coughing spasms and despite having the medications, they didn't seem to be working. The second time the ambulance came to my home – they were the ones who rang the new hub, which I found very fascinating.' Just a week earlier in mid-March, Ohijenko had similar breathing problems and was taken to an emergency department. She says the experience at the hub was much smoother and more comfortable. 'I was very impressed with the whole area, the medical staff and how well they looked after me,' she says. 'It was very attentive and immediate. I didn't have to sit in a plastic chair and wait to see someone. As an older person that is very uncomfortable. The people were looking after me from the moment I entered the place and they had all my complete medical history in front of them and could look after me straight away.' Located in Sefton Plaza, Woodville, Playford (Elizabeth) and Daw Park, the SA Health Urgent Care Hub multidisciplinary teams are made up of nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists, social workers, podiatrists, occupational therapists and dietitians. It is a referral-only service, received from SA Ambulance Service, SA Virtual Care Service, general practitioners and community health care providers, while non-government organisations or consumers can even be redirected from emergency departments. Ohijenko says these hubs take some of the strain off our emergency departments. 'For us older people, we have complex issues, so sometimes we don't have a choice but to make an emergency call,' she explains. 'I would 100 per cent use the services again. They did everything they could for me, from showing me how to use the medications properly to making recommendations to my local GP. They were great.' Been there, lived that Jess Rolevink speaks with authority about the crucial role peer support plays in helping people deal with their mental health challenges. As the peer practice lead at the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre, she sees every day the impact empathy and understanding from people with lived experience has on those who may be struggling with issues such as extreme anxiety and depression. And she only wishes the service – designed to help give people the care they need when they need it to keep them out of hospitals – existed when she was dealing with her own distress. 'During my teenage years and my twenties, I really struggled with anxiety and depression quite badly,' she says. 'It was so hard to get help. I was in and out of hospitals. 'That was it back then – there was no such thing as valuing lived experience. For me, my experience was one of isolation and of feeling judged. There was no one there that could say to me, 'you know what Jess, I get it. I absolutely get what you've been through and you're going to be OK'. 'I never experienced that and so this is why this role is so important. It just helps so much.' Rolevink works with a team of 25 peer support workers and a similar number of clinicians at the walk-in Elizabeth centre, described as 'a welcoming place for people to access mental health information, services and supports from qualified professionals over extended hours.' Anyone can reach out for support for themselves, a loved one, friend, colleague or community contact. The service is free and no appointment, referral or Medicare card is needed. Similar centres are in Adelaide, Mount Barker, Mount Gambier and Port Pirie. Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre operations lead Rebecca Ljubic says all five centres are tailored to meet the needs of their local communities. 'When people experience a mental health crisis or distress they often turn to a hospital and emergency department and that's not always the best fit, given EDs are really tailored for physical health needs, and not so much mental health needs,' she says. The service aims to – where appropriate – provide immediate support to reduce distress; provide in-house assessment, treatment and support; and connect people with the most appropriate ongoing support. Ljubic says the focus is on providing a 'warm and welcoming' space, far removed from a cold, clinical setting. 'There's a lounge room environment for people, all the consulting rooms are very low stimulus, there's mood lighting,' she says. 'It's relaxed and comforting to help support people in a homelike, relaxing sort of environment.' There has been growing local demand for the service. 'For our immediate access – the walk-in component of our service – we are currently seeing more than 300 people a month. And that's just stepping up and up and up each month.' Ljubic agrees the 'peer-first' lived experience component of the service helps provide a balanced and holistic care model. 'A lot of people come into the service feeling distressed, in crisis and hopeless but having that peer connection – having someone there who believes in them – helps them to regain some of that hope,' she says. 'Not everyone requires clinical intervention either. Some people might come in and they'll be able to talk with a peer and talk it through. 'Some may come in and might have some very serious things happening in their life where safety is concerned. That's where a clinician will become involved and provide some support around some of those more complex situations.' Rolevink says hearing others talk about their own lived experience in a 'purposeful and authentic way' can have a powerful effect – and reflects again on the lack of post-hospital care during her own mental health journey. 'What I would have loved back then would have been a combination – someone with lived experience and someone with the clinical know-how to essentially walk alongside me. And that's what we do here.'
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Expert help at hand: Getting the right health advice when you need it most
An extensive range of health care services is providing a safe, reliable and efficient alternative to South Australians attending hospital emergency departments if they need urgent care. Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, 24/7 pharmacies, Priority Care Centres, Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service, the SA Virtual Care Service, a Virtual Women's Assessment Service, SA Health Urgent Care Hubs, Medicare Mental Health Centres and Healthdirect services the health needs of all South Australians. Care options are available virtually, and include services in metropolitan and regional areas, reducing the burden on hospital demand. For many, knowing when to go straight to an emergency department, call an ambulance or wait to see their GP can be a dilemma. This uncertainty has historically created pressure on the state's ambulance and hospital services. To ease this pressure, Healthdirect Australia – the national virtual public health information service – provides free, trusted health information and advice over the phone or online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Jointly funded by the Federal and all state and territory governments, the service has been helping people manage their health for more than a decade. Healthdirect Australia Chief Medical Officer Dr Nirvana Luckraj says the service plays a crucial role in the health landscape. 'Many people are not sure how urgently they need care or what type of care is appropriate,' Dr Luckraj says. 'Healthdirect helps bridge this gap by guiding people to the right care at the right time, empowering them to make informed decisions and lead healthier lives. 'Importantly our service has positively impacted the healthcare system by safely diverting a significant number of callers from emergency departments to more appropriate care pathways.' Aside from having an online 'Symptom Checker' – which allows people to quickly and easily check their symptoms and get advice using a self-guided tirage process – a call to the Healthdirect helpline can quickly put people in touch with a registered nurse. The nurse will ask a series of clinical questions and – based on the urgency of their respective situation – callers are then advised on how to best manage their health issue. This could range from advice on how to best look after themselves at home to information on the type of medical help they might need, such as connecting them to the appropriate health service from a GP, virtual care pathway or urgent care. In an emergency, the caller is transferred straight to Triple Zero. Callers to Healthdirect may be offered a telephone or video call back from a Healthdirect GP. Virtual GPs can provide an e-prescription via SMS and can also upload prescriptions and a call summary to the caller's My Health Record so it is available to their GP. The Healthdirect helpline can connect callers to the various urgent care services available across the state, offering an alternative to attending an emergency department. A Healthdirect nurse may advise a caller whose situation is urgent but not life-threatening to visit an urgent care service. Nationally, the urgent care service receives around 1.4 million calls a year while the website has about 46 million sessions. The Symptom Checker is accessed 2.1 million times a year. Dr Luckraj says that in SA, people most commonly call about fatigue, abdominal pain, headache, swelling and 'feeling sick and queasy'. 'The most frequent users of the Healthdirect helpline are women aged 30 to 39 years, often calling about their own health, closely followed by parents seeking advice for their own children,' she says. The Symptom Checker is most popular among people aged 20 to 29 years. Across both the helpline and the Symptom Checker, usage spikes in winter due to searches related to colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses. For more information visit Urgent Care Clinics offer help for all Six Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the state are ensuring South Australians have greater access to urgent health care. The clinics – at Elizabeth, Para Hills West, Marion, Morphett Vale, Mount Gambier and Royal Park – are open for extended hours seven days a week and offer walk-in treatment for non-life-threatening conditions. All treatment is bulk billed for valid Medicare Card holders. The clinics help to reduce pressure on hospitals and emergency departments, allowing them to focus on higher urgency and life-threatening conditions. Patients can walk into any Medicare Urgent Care Clinic for urgent care without the need for an appointment or referral. Clinics are supported by highly skilled independent doctors and nurses, using excellent treatment and procedure room facilities. The clinics give South Australians more options to see a doctor or nurse when they need priority medical attention for an illness or injury that can be managed without a trip to the emergency department but cannot wait for a regular appointment with a GP. Medicare Urgent Care Clinics provide acute care and treatment for: â—� Minor infections â—� Minor fractures, sprains, sports injuries and neck and back pain â—� Urinary tract infections (UTIs) â—� Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) â—� Minor cuts â—� Insect bites and rashes â—� Minor eye and ear infections â—� respiratory illness â—� gastroenteritis â—� mild burns Medicare Urgent Care Clinics won't be able to see people for complex conditions. In these cases, patients' own GPs should be their first point of contact. Emergency or life-threatening care requires immediate medical attention and management by an emergency department or hospital. If you or a loved one has a life-threatening injury or illness, call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department. Medicare Urgent Care Clinic locations â—� Elizabeth Medicare UCC – Elizabeth Medical & Dental Centre, 30 Philip Hwy, Elizabeth â—� Para Hills Medicare UCC – Suite 1, Specialist Centre, 33 McIntyre Rd, Para Hills West â—� Marion Medicare UCC – Marion Domain Medical & Dental Centre, 453 Morphett Rd, Oaklands Park â—� Morphett Vale Medicare UCC – 1 Doctors Rd, Morphett Vale â—� Mount Gambier Medicare UCC – Mount Gambier Family Health, 3/14 Crouch St S, Mount Gambier â—� Western Medicare UCC – Old Port Road Medical and Dental Centre, 1202-1210 Old Port Rd, Royal Park For more information, click here. When to visit an emergency department or call triple zero (000) â—� Chest pain or tightness â—� Breathing difficulties â—� Uncontrollable bleeding â—� Severe burns â—� Poisoning â—� Unconsciousness or seizures â—� Numbness or paralysis â—� A life-threatening injury â—� Ongoing fever in infants â—� Unresponsive 24/7 pharmacy care the right prescription Melanie Browning thought in this day and age, there must be a 24-hour pharmacy open somewhere in Adelaide that could help her son Mitchell, who was vomiting in the middle of the night. Mitchell, 20, had already visited hospital a couple of days prior to treat severe dehydration symptoms but, as his vomiting had eased, they had not filled a script they were given. So, when his illness resumed at 3am that morning in February, she looked online for somewhere to fill the script to avoid another trip to a hospital emergency department. 'The thought of just sitting at hospital for hours was not great,' she says. 'I thought, 'Surely there'd be a 24-hour chemist, it's 2025' – and there was. I couldn't believe it. 'I jumped in the car – I live in Dernancourt – and drove over to Norwood and it was just fantastic. They filled the script and I had a great chat with the pharmacist while I was there. 'It saved us a trip to hospital; we did not have to wait until 8am (to fill the script) and have him get worse – we were able to start getting him better.' Three Adelaide pharmacies – National Pharmacies at Norwood, Chemist Warehouse at Clovelly Park and Chemist Warehouse at Saints Shopping Centre at Salisbury Plain – are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week as part of SA Health's Community Pharmacy initiative. As well as dispensing medicines and other pharmacy goods, pharmacists can provide their expert advice on healthcare options. Browning says the advice provided by the pharmacist on duty that night was particularly beneficial to her son's situation. 'Not that he was diagnosing him but the pharmacist was giving me his thoughts about what we could do and some advice on where to go from here, to make another doctor's appointment – it was a full coverage of care from the pharmacist,' she says. After seeing a doctor later, Mitchell discovered he had been suffering from a bacterial infection called Campylobacter bacteria, as the pharmacist had suggested. Browning says the pharmacy's security guard also made her feel safe in the unfamiliar location at that time of night, keeping the pharmacy locked while she was inside and then monitoring her until she returned to her car. 'The service is not only safe and readily available to people, but it's so simple and easy,' she says. 'Certainly having a chat with the pharmacist and getting things straight in your head, to me was just fantastic.' She urges more South Australians to remember the service when they are considering whether hospital is the right option when they are ill. 'If there's a reason that you don't have to go to hospital and keep that queue (in the emergency department) from being so long, that would be a good thing for fellow South Australians because there's just too many people waiting there that probably don't really need to be there,' she says.
