Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network
Date: 27 February 2024
South Australians will have better access to palliative care medicines at community pharmacies, allowing them to continue treatment at home and avoid visiting an Emergency Department.
A network of 30 community pharmacies located across regional and metropolitan South Australia has been established to ensure people with a life-limiting illness can access medicines to receive their treatment at home.
From 16 February 2024, the Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network will ensure access to core palliative care medicines for people with life-limiting illnesses, including after-hours access in urgent situations.
The South Australian Government has committed $250,000 over four years to support the initiative, commissioning the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (SA Branch) to manage the network of pharmacies.
The network pharmacies will keep a minimum stock of the core palliative care medicines and provide critical support, information and advice to palliative care patients, their families and carers, and other health professionals.
The Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network will complement existing community pharmacy and health services to better support patients and their carers.
The Guild is delighted to be working with the State Government on this exciting initiative. South Australia’s community pharmacies play an integral role in the health and wellbeing of their patients and the general community.
Supporting patients who wish to receive their palliative care at home will not only relieve the pressure placed on emergency departments but also relieve some of the stress on patients and their carers.
For more information, including a list of participating community pharmacies, visit the SA Health Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network webpage.
Contact: Gillian Starr
Phone: 83048300
Page last updated on: 28 February 2024