Sick at the worst time? SA now has pharmacies that offer 24/7 access, hassle-free treatments, and travel jabs. Here’s what’s new – and why it’s a win for your health.
Pharmacies are stepping up as mini health hubs, and it’s making a real difference: Fewer GP visits, more on-the-spot solutions for everyday health concerns and – crucially – fewer trips to the emergency department (ED).
Whether it’s grabbing late-night meds, getting easy and convenient access to health advice, or topping up your scripts with zero hassle, SA pharmacies are making healthcare way easier to access. Here’s what you need to know.
Jetting off? Get your vax at the pharmacy
Heading overseas? Good news – pharmacies now offer travel vaccinations, making it easier to get protected against hepatitis A & B, typhoid, and more.
This service launched this month, meaning you can now book in with your local participating pharmacy.
Pharmacists trained in travel medicine can assess your needs based on your destination and provide on-the-spot advice and vaccinations.
The service is available in select pharmacies, so it’s best to call ahead and check. If you need a Yellow Fever vaccination, you may still need to visit a GP.
For the best protection, get your travel vaccinations 6 to 12 weeks before leaving Australia – so you have enough time to develop full immunity and access several doses if required.
24-hour pharmacies: New location in the south
If you’ve ever dashed to a pharmacy just before closing, hoping they’ll still let you in, you’ll appreciate this one.
SA’s three 24/7 pharmacies – National Pharmacies Norwood and Chemist Warehouse in Clovelly Park and Salisbury Plain – have been a hit.
In fact, they’ve been so popular that the state government is funding a fourth in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, set to open later in 2025.
Since launching last year, in their extended hours these pharmacies have:
- Helped 174,000+ South Australians
- Dispensed 70,000+ prescriptions
- Taken 7,300+ phone calls from people needing urgent health advice
Each pharmacy has on-site security overnight, ensuring a safe and accessible service for anyone who needs it, any time of the day or night.
UTI relief and accessing the pill – easier than ever
The community pharmacy UTI service, launched in March 2024, has been a big win for women (but probably not for cranberry juice manufacturers).
Accessing assessment and treatment for a UTI no longer means a trip to the ED or waiting days for a GP appointment.
Instead, women aged 18-65 with uncomplicated UTIs can now get assessed and treated on the spot at a participating pharmacy.
The service involves a consultation with a trained pharmacist, who can provide antibiotics without the need for a prescription if deemed appropriate.
Since launching last year, more than 7,040 women have accessed the service – contributing to a 21 per cent drop in UTI-related hospital visits.
And if you’ve been caught out needing a last-minute pill resupply, that’s easier now too. If you’ve had a prescription in the last 12 months, participating pharmacists can resupply your oral contraceptive without a new script after a consultation.
Pharmacies may charge a consultation fee, but it means you won’t have to scramble for a last-minute GP appointment just to continue your regular contraception.
More pharmacy treatments available soon
SA pharmacists are taking on more than just scripts. By late 2026, pharmacists who complete additional postgraduate training will be able to assess, manage, and treat minor conditions without needing a doctor’s visit, including:
- Ear infections (handy if your kid’s screaming in pain at 10pm)
- Wound care (because accidents don’t care about business hours)
- Gastro and reflux (midnight indigestion, begone!)
- Acne and skin conditions (that includes psoriasis, shingles and school sores)
- Muscle and joint pain (aching after a gym session? Sorted)
Qualified pharmacists will follow strict clinical guidelines to ensure patients receive safe and appropriate treatment.
This means they can prescribe medications when appropriate, reducing unnecessary GP appointments and easing pressure on EDs by providing another option for patients to access treatment.
More ways to stay out of the ED
The push to free up hospital beds goes beyond pharmacies. If you need urgent but non-life-threatening care, here are other options:
- SA Virtual Care Service – Available for rural, aged care, and disability patients, this telehealth service has already kept more than 40,000 people out of EDs.
- Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service (CAVUCS) – Free virtual care for kids aged six months to 18 years, treating sports injuries, colds, and mental health concerns.
- Virtual Women’s Assessment Service – A free midwifery service for women up to 20 weeks pregnant, offering support for early pregnancy symptoms and urgent gynaecological issues.
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinics – Walk-in, bulk-billed care at six locations across SA, treating minor injuries and infections.
- Priority Care Centres – By referral from SA Ambulance or GPs, these centres treat respiratory infections, minor fractures, and dehydration, reducing unnecessary ED visits.
For more information on the community pharmacy initiatives, click here.
