A year after his initial flights delivering medical supplies and staff to towns affected by the Lachlan River flood crisis, Buckley is back in action. Now, at the behest of the NSW Government, he and his team are vaccinating hundreds of aged care residents against Covid-19.
Buckley, a pharmacist from Forbes and a pilot for 15 years, has chartered his own four-seater Piper Pathfinder to continue the vaccine rollout to remote parts of the state’s west.
“We received quite an urgent call from the Department of Health to help vaccinate more than 600 aged care residents, in 12 locations, within two weeks,” Buckley said. “It was important that we moved as quickly and efficiently as possible, medical services are under such extreme pressure in these regional and rural hubs.”
Pharmacists from the Life Pharmacy Group have already travelled over 3700km to deliver vaccines to various locations including Gilgandra, Wellington, Narromine, Yeoval, Bathurst and Dungog.
The call to action was prompted by the government’s recommendation for an additional Covid-19 booster for all adults aged 75 and over.
“The patients were very grateful, very receptive, and very welcoming,” Buckley said. “To be able to put my hobby of flying, and my passion for community and preventive health together is incredibly rewarding.”
While on the road for Bush Summit earlier in July, Buckley spoke about the importance of pharmacists in remote areas where access to medical services are limited. “Never underestimate what community pharmacy can offer to patients,” he urged. “Pharmacists are willing to help ease the burden.”
As today marks World Pharmacy Day, Buckley and the LPG’s latest mission continues to underscore the vital role of pharmacists in regional, rural, and remote NSW.
