THE NSW Government has announced a $200,000 investment during 2018/19 to improve the support provided by pharmacists to palliative care patients in the community.
Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health Leslie Williams said the NSW Government was "committed to breaking down barriers in the health system so people get palliative care at the right time, in the right ways".
Williams noted that in 2015/16 there were about 83,000 palliative care-related prescriptions provided to almost 52,000 patients nationally.
"This funding will help us collect insights from community pharmacists and other experts regarding how patients can be better supported by improving access to palliative care medication and providing advice on medicines," Williams said.
The move was announced at a Clinical Excellence Commission workshop in Sydney yesterday, which is seeing consultation with representatives from community pharmacy, public and private palliative care services, community nursing residential aged care, academics and consumers on ways to enhance medication management.
A further meeting with key stakeholders is planned for 05 Jun "to develop outcomes that ensure improvements will be put into practice," Williams said.
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