Design District is a boutique company offering design, project management and shop fitting services throughout Western Australia with a special focus on pharmacy.
Today, we are lucky enough to have their Director Shane Moyle share a guest blog about how to ensure your consult room is compliant for the soon-to-be-released COVID Vaccines.
Shane Moyle, Director of Design District.
In light of Pharmacists nationwide being requested to register their EOI to vaccinate for the soon-to-be released Covid-19 vaccines, there are considerations that come along with that decision.
If you currently have a compliant operating Private Consultation room suitable for vaccinations, you are in a great position to offer this protection to your local community.
If you do not have compliant consultation room, need a new consultation room or want to add an additional consultation room you will need to know the following information:
● You require PRBWA approval to alter or add an additional consultation room within your Pharmacy.
● PRBWA only meets once a month to approve applications.
● Any plans for your consultation room will need to be part of the basic compliance set required by PRBWA.
● Premises Plan, clearly showing the following:
o the perimeter and total area of the premises in square metres
o the perimeter of the dispensary outlined with a coloured border and total area of the dispensary in square metres
o the perimeter for private consultation between a pharmacist and consumer, including the dimensions of any privacy screens
o if applicable, the perimeter and total area of each non-pharmacy business operating at the premises in square metres
o all entry and exit points and the purpose of each entry and/or exit point
o fixed and mobile fittings including a description and the dimensions of any barriers used to prevent consumer access to Schedule 2 medicines and Schedule 3 medicines
o the storage area(s) for Schedule 2 medicines
o the storage area(s) for Schedule 3 medicines
o the storage area(s) for Schedule 3 Restricted medicines (if applicable) and Schedule 4 medicines
o the storage area(s) for Schedule 8 medicines
o the dispensary sink, confirming hot and cold water available
o the refrigerator
o all dispensing stations
● Building Plan - if the premises do not comprise the whole of a building, include the BUILDING where the premises are situated and highlight the location of the premises within that building
● Location Plan - showing your Pharmacy location on a map.
Although the above list of requirements may seem daunting, there are specialists that can make light work of this on your behalf. Unfortunately, the not to scale hand drawn pencil plan from the early 2000’s will no longer be accepted.
If you have not been deterred at this point, here are some key dates you need to know:
o March 22nd submission. April 21st approval. April 22nd start construction.
o April 20th submission. May 19th approval. May 20th start construction.
o May 18th submission. June 16th approval. June 17th start construction.
As a quick overview the March 22nd submission gets you up & running just as Flu season is upon us. April & May submissions have completely missed the boat (sorry).
As a side note, there are also a couple other factors that you may need to consider:
● Council approval for a Building Permit - To ensure your consultation room has been built to Australian standards AS 1428.1 Design for access & mobility (wheelchair access for those playing at home).
● WA is currently having a building boom of sorts & getting trades like gyprockers, painters, electricians etc. may require some forward planning not to delay your build.
● Australia is currently in the middle of a white melamine shortage. This may not mean much to you but look inside 90% of your existing cabinetry & you will see it’s white. That material is currently in high demand & short supply. If you are going to furnish your consultation room with cabinets etc. you will need to keep this in mind. Changing the carcase colour is a solution but may add cost. Again, forward planning will help minimise this issue.
● To make room for a consultation room you will need to possibly reduce stock lines & get rid of some shelving. This also brings into play what condition the floor, walls & ceilings are like in these areas. Will they need patching? Are they raw & unfinished?
All that being said & done, it’s a simple process to get organised. The biggest take away from this information should be time & process awareness. You can have a Pharmacy alteration done at any stage. You just need to allow 6 - 8 weeks to get through for the process.
If you have any questions relating to this or any other Pharmacy alterations or fit outs, I am currently offering 15 min Q&A phone or video calls to better assist your moving forward. You may already have a designer & builder all lined up ready to go (great work), however I’m still here to answer any questions you might have.
You can book your 15 min chat by texting ‘Q&A’ along with your details, ideal day & time to 0473 002 090 (that’s my mobile number) so we can get you booked in.
As a side note, I just wanted to express how proud & privileged Design District feels to be part of the Pharmacy community. Seeing your contribution to community health & safety over the past 12 months has been nothing short of amazing. If anything, I believe Covid-19 has helped position Pharmacy as a major player in the primary health care sector. Being a father of a 5yo, Type 1 daughter, I witnessed first-hand the importance you have played in so many lives daily. You should all be immensely proud of what you have achieved individually & collectively.
Please continue to stay safe & make sure you look after yourselves also.
Cheers,
Shane Moyle
Director