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Practice for sale formIn recognition of Palliative Care Week, South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) is highlighting the Core Palliative Care Medicines map, which helps patients and caregivers quickly locate pharmacies committed to stocking core palliative care medicines.
Select pharmacies across South Western Sydney have volunteered to ensure the availability of core palliative care medicines for patients in need, particularly those wishing to receive end-of-life care at home or in aged care settings.
The Core Palliative Care Medicines – Building collaborative partnerships with Community Pharmacists project is a joint effort between SWSPHN and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. It aims to minimise access barriers and facilitate timely prescription, supply and use of medicines for end-of-life symptom management by ensuring alignment across the service system.
The project ensures participating pharmacies maintain sufficient stock of these core medicines to provide initial urgent supplies to patients or carers and minimises delays in access to core palliative care medications.
William Clayton, pharmacist and owner of Clayton Pharmacy in Bowral, emphasised the importance of community access to these core medicines.
“These medicines are vital for allowing effective end-of-life care to patients who choose to receive this care in their own homes,” he said.
“The Core Palliative Care Medicines map allows timely access to these core medicines, which is crucial to assisting someone caring for a loved one. Even simplifying the process of finding a pharmacy committed to stocking these medicines is a great step.”
Direct feedback from patients and caregivers has highlighted the initiative’s positive impact on access to information and resources for end-of-life care.
Nadim Assaf, pharmacist and owner of Picton Pharmacy, stressed the importance of stocking the five core palliative care medicines and the Core Palliative Care Medicines Map.
“There is a very high demand and several aged care facilities in the area too, so it made sense to have the core palliative medicines on hand, because obviously a lot of people, while in aged care, do require those at some stage,” he said.
“Due to this demand, our pharmacy had on stock the five core palliative care medicines, so when this initiative started, it was as simple as being added to the Core Palliative Care Medicines map.”
“The map is really helpful; it makes it easy for not only pharmacists, nurses and GPs, but also for patients and caregivers to find and access core palliative care medicines fast.”
Mr Assaf also emphasised the significance of pharmacies being easily accessible to the broader community.
“I don’t think pharmacies or pharmacists realise how much demand there is,” he said.
“You want your patients to feel comfortable going to their normal pharmacists to access this medication.”
Both Mr Clayton and Mr Assaf encouraged other pharmacies to join the initiative, underscoring the essential role of these medicines in delivering quality end-of-life care.
The Core Palliative Care Medicines map not only facilitates access for patients and caregivers but also acts as a valuable resource for healthcare providers involved in end-of-life care.
Visit the SWSPHN website for more information about the Core Palliative Care Medicines map.
Top image: William Clayton, Pharmacist and Owner of Clayton Pharmacy in Bowral
Bottom image: Nadim Assif, Pharmacist and Owner of Picton Pharmacy in Picton