Pharmacists are feeling more optimistic these days about having their scope of practice expanded so that they can take some pressure off our over-burdened health care system.

Janice Audeau says efforts are now underway with their group, the Pharmacists Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, to change legislation to allow them to expand their scope of service.

For example, they can extend prescriptions but sometimes there is an associated fee which has to be paid by the patient. That can end up meaning a trip to the emergency room.

Audeau says pharmacists in some other provinces can treat for urinary tract infections but not in Newfoundland and Labrador.

She says that’s the type of thing that will send people to emergency as such infections can easily get out of hand if not treated promptly.