Sector news

The Department of Health and Aged Care is seeking input from health professionals and consumers on prescribing by nurse practitioners and endorsed midwifes through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).  Findings will inform a review for consideration by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) of medicines that may be suitable for prescribing by nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives on the PBS.

Responses to this consultation survey will be accepted up to 23:30 AEDT on Monday, 1 April 2024. If you have any questions or concerns relating to this consultation survey, please email PBSpostmarket@health.gov.au.

Access survey: https://ohta-consultations.health.gov.au/ohta/nurse-practitioner-and-midwife-pbs-prescribing-con/

General practices can join an End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) pilot study and receive free, accredited training in end-of-life law and decision making. The study will explore the extent to which ELLC’s learning modules lead to changes in GP knowledge of end-of-life law and effect on confidence in applying the law in practice.

Palliative Care Victoria has launched the Dignified and Respectful Decisions project to support families of older Australians in aged care across Victoria. The initiative provides families with information and resources on the benefits of palliative care, as well as guidance on how to advocate and make decisions for relatives through collaborative conversations with the aged care team. The project’s aim is to improve resident experiences of dying while supporting the wellbeing of their loved ones. Dignified and Respectful Decisions is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, and the Victorian Government as part of The Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care Measure.

Palliative Care Connect has launched in South Australia, funded by both the Commonwealth and SA State Government. This initiative aims to improve access to palliative care and bereavement support services statewide. It facilitates smoother transitions between care types and offers guidance on end-of-life care pathways.

The service features Palliative Care Navigators connecting patients with local community support. Now, a user-friendly website, developed with Flinders University, supplements the service. On the site, users can find information on palliative care and bereavement, access a directory of services by location, and use a self-assessment tool to pinpoint needed support.

The Government of South Australia has announced that select pharmacies across the state will now stock core palliative care medications to provide better access for people with life-limiting illnesses. This new Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network initiative involves 30 pharmacies, including ones in Berri, Ceduna, Hahndorf, Kangaroo Island, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte, Normanville, Nurioopta, Port Lincoln and Victor Harbor. It will be funded by the state government for four years.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has partnered with the Tasmanian Government to help support palliative care patients stay at home and receive the care and medicines they need in a comfortable, familiar environment. Announced by Health Minister Guy Barnett MP in Launceston, the program supports community pharmacies across Tasmania to continuously stock essential palliative care medicines, ensuring these are available to patients across the state when needed. PSA will deliver training in the provision of essential palliative care medicines for pharmacists and GPs as part of the program, ensuring the safe and quality use of medicines thanks to funding from the Tasmanian Department of Health. PSA Tasmanian President David Peachey MPS said the joint approach demonstrated a commitment to improving palliative care for all Tasmanians.