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palliPHARM

palliPHARM for residential and aged care communities

palliPHARM for residential and aged care communities aims to facilitate mechanisms that ensure community palliative patients, whether in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) or private homes, have timely access to palliative care medicines, if needed.

 

This project was funded by the Queensland Government from 2020 to 2022 as part of the COVID-19 response and has since been subsumed into PallConsult, a statewide palliative care service available in Queensland. More information is available from the palliPHARM Factsheet or by visiting the PallConsult website (www.pallconsult.com.au).

 

To support the palliPHARM project, PSA is providing links to education opportunities, resources and content relevant to palliative care, giving practice support to pharmacists providing services to palliative patients residing in the community.

 

palliPHARM resources continue to be useful for pharmacists’ practice and remain a palliPHARM project legacy.

palliPHARM
Factsheets
Recorded Webinar
palliMEDS
app
Palliative Care
Essential CPE
PallConsult
hotline

palliPHARM Letter of Intent

palliPHARM Letter of Intent

Queensland Health and PSA invite all Queensland community pharmacists to read the palliPHARM Letter of Intent (click here) and agree to stock medicines on the Core Palliative Care Medicines List for Queensland Community Patients.

 

If you choose to complete the Letter of Intent, your pharmacy name and address will be published on a list of community pharmacies who have made this commitment.

 

The list will appear on public-facing directories and healthcare provider portals such as QFinder 2.0, Primary Health Network websites and HealthPathways to enable the public, General Practitioners and other healthcare professionals to locate community pharmacies who support palliative care.

Complete the letter of intent

palliPHARM Project Resources

PalliPHARM Display Poster – An A3 display poster to show that your pharmacy supports end-of-life care in the community

 

palliPHARM Factsheet – To learn more about palliPHARM and the project’s activities

 

Core Palliative Care Medicines For Queensland Community Patients Factsheet

 

Community-based Palliative Care Anticipatory Medicines: Guidance for Queensland 

 

palliPHARM Letter of Intent

 

palliPHARM GP Letter – A template letter for community pharmacists, inviting discussions with local GPs about which core palliative care medicines to stock in their pharmacy.

 

QFinder 2.0 Pharmacy user guide – A step-by-step guide detailing how pharmacists can register their pharmacy or update their pharmacy details on QFinder 2.0. To register your pharmacy as providing “Palliative Care Support” on QFinder 2.0, follow the instructions on pages 10 and 11 of the guide.

 

Palliative Care Medicines Factsheet – An information sheet about palliative care medicines for people receiving palliative care and their families

 

Storing your palliative care medicines safely Factsheet – An information sheet about safe storage of palliative care medicines for people receiving palliative care and their families

 

Disposing of your palliative care medicines safely Factsheet – An information sheet about safe disposal of palliative care medicines for people receiving palliative care and their families

 

Click here to view other resources related to palliPHARM or to locate a ‘Palliative Care Support’ pharmacy.

 

NB: Pharmacies that have completed the palliPHARM Letter of Intent are known as ‘Palliative Care Support’ pharmacies.

palliPHARM Testimonials

“I rang a local pharmacy to see if we could get some urgent subcutaneous medicines so the wife (sole carer) didn’t have to drive far to source these medicines. I was dubious as this pharmacy has never kept end-of-life medicines before…BUT they actually had everything for tonight and said that they were part of palliPHARM. It has made it much nice for the wife and my job easier too.”

 

Rebekah Park (B.Pharm)
Community Palliative Care Service

 

 

“……… Late on a Friday night in the days before Christmas we had the son of a palliative patient come into the pharmacy with scripts for his mother. He had called around trying to find medicines on the list and was so grateful that we had stock of the medicines they needed……………..”

 

Sue Pennells (B.Pharm)
TerryWhite Chemmart Coorparoo

 

 

“………..Community pharmacists are well positioned to help respond to the needs of palliative care patients and their families by committing to keep stock of recommended medications…………Ensuring patients in need are able to access these medicines safely, with the right advice and in a timely manner is something we are proud to commit to.”

 

Bridget Totterman (B.Pharm)
TerryWhite Chemmart Myer Centre

 

 

“…… Our pharmacy is geographically very remote, so it is important that we act proactively to have these medications available on-site at all times for when they are needed……It can take up to 2 weeks for us to receive certain medications from our wholesalers…

……Being involved with palliPHARM has improved our relationship with the local healthcare team – it shows that the pharmacy is willing to make changes to benefit our patients………”

 

Carli Berrill (B.Pharm) and Caitlin Davies (BPharm)
Managing Partners at Thursday Island Pharmacy

Workshops - palliative care and anticipatory medicines

Queensland Health in collaboration with PSA and Primary Health Networks (PHNs) have conducted two-hour ‘palliPHARM – Palliative Care and Anticipatory Medicines’ accredited workshops throughout Queensland from October 2020 to April 2021. The workshops were presented by Palliative Care Doctors (Prof Liz Reymond and Dr Leyton Miller) and pharmacist (Elisha Noone) from Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative, Metro South Palliative Care Services. These workshops were intended for both pharmacist and general practitioners to attend.

Live workshops have now concluded for 2021. However, pharmacists can view a recording of the workshop online and still attain CPD-credits.

 

Webinar Recording

Prior to viewing the recorded webinar, pharmacists are encouraged to undertake the PSA Palliative Care Essential CPE, supported by the New South Wales Government with an unrestricted education grant and available free of charge to both PSA members and non-members. This will provide pharmacists with a comprehensive overview of palliative care, including strategies to communicate effectively with people and caregivers about palliative care and their medicines management plan.

 

View recording of the workshop online via the following link:

palliPHARM recorded webinar

PSA Resources

Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook – APF24  (Requires textbook or subscription)

Text: Section C Therapeutic Management: Palliative Care, pages 213 – 216

Digital: Section C Therapeutic Management / Palliative Care
Access at: https://www.psa.org.au/media-publications/australian-pharmaceutical-formulary/ 

 

Australian Pharmacist articles

Consumer Information and Carer Support

Palliative Care

 

Advance Care Planning

 

Grief and Bereavement

  • Understanding grief (PCA) Factsheet
  • Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
  • My Grief app – This Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement app provides information, tools and resources to support bereaved people and also provides practical strategies for families and friends on how best to support someone in the midst of their bereavement
  • Bereavement support – The Care at End of Life project team has developed a range of resources to provide support and direction for people who are bereaved. The bereavement resources provide useful information about preparing for the end of life of an adult family member or friend; what to do after someone dies; grief and loss; caring for self and others; a checklist of suggested tasks; and a comprehensive list of support services.

 

Useful websites for carers

  • carerhelp – A website that provides support to those who care for someone who is dying. COVID-19 resources also available for carers via this website
  • PalliCHAT – A Palliative Care Queensland program that supports people with life-limiting conditions in the community
  • My Care, My Choices – is a Queensland Government advance care planning initiative. The website hosts a plethora of information related to advance care planning
  • PalAssist – a 24 hour accessible online and telephone service that is free for anyone who has a life limiting illness or condition, and/or their families and carers (subject to any costs that may be imposed by a caller’s telephone service provider for 1800 number calls).
  • Last Aid – is a 4-hour intetnational standardised introductory level community training program for community members (not for health professionals)

 

Conversation Tools

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is the peak national professional pharmacy organisation, representing Australia's 36,000+ pharmacists in all sectors and across all locations, working in or towards a career in pharmacy. Registered training organisation code: 122206 ABN:49 008 532 072 ACN:008 532 072

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