Media release – Tasmanian Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, 18 January 2024
TASMANIAN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES SUPPORTING AT HOME END OF LIFE CARE
The Tasmanian Branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has been encouraging community pharmacies around the state to sign up to become a Palliative Care Prepared Pharmacy, to ensure palliative care patients who choose to stay at home can readily access palliative care medications from their local community pharmacy as needed.
Tasmanian Branch President Helen O’Byrne said that many terminally ill people want to remain at home for end-of-life care.
“To be able to remain in their own home and not have to be admitted to hospital or go into hospice care, patients must be able to access the palliative care medicines they need from their local community pharmacy.”
The Guild is proud to be part of a Working Group established under the Community Pharmacy in Palliative Care Tasmania (ComPPaCT) program, which has developed a Palliative Care Core Medicines List. The Working Group includes a wide range of palliative care and pharmacy representatives including the Tasmanian Department of Health, Tasmania’s Chief Pharmacist, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), as well as the Guild. The list has been endorsed by the Tasmanian Palliative Care Clinical Network.
Pharmacies that sign up to become a Palliative Care Prepared Pharmacy by agreeing to stock the palliative care core medicines, will be identified on the Guild’s ‘Find a Pharmacy’ website and will display a ComPPaCT window decal.
Doctors can be assured that when referring patients to those pharmacies participating in the program that the medications will be readily available, to better care for and support patients and their families.
Fully funded CPD accredited training for GPs and pharmacists around palliative care and the core medicines is being developed by the PSA and Primary Health and will be rolled out over coming months.
“To date we have 83 pharmacies signed up, located all around our state with more coming on board”, Ms O’Byrne said.
“The collaborative approach taken by all involved demonstrates that when healthcare professionals work together we can achieve really positive healthcare outcomes for Tasmanians, Ms O’Byrne said.
