The information on this page is the latest information and resources for Community Pharmacies.
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Helpful Information & Resources
Community pharmacy pandemic preparedness for COVID-19
Advice for community pharmacies on COVID-19
COVID-19 Pandemic Guidelines for Community Pharmacy
WNSW COVID-19 Triage Protocol & PPE
Assisting Patients in Home Isolation
General Precautions and Hygiene
Limits on dispensing and sales
Patients who present with symptoms of respiratory tract infection
FIP COVID-19 Guidelines for Pharmacists & Workforce
Continued Dispensing Guidelines
Expansion of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Continued Dispensing Arrangements Covid-19
Electronic Prescribing
Commencement of Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Prescriptions) Regulation 2020
Community pharmacists in NSW can now dispense a prescription for most medicines using an image of the prescription received by email or fax, rather than requiring a paper prescription.
This temporary measure will better support patients, prescribers and pharmacists during the COVID-19 response, and allow better integration of the prescription and supply of medicines with the Commonwealth Government’s COVID-19 response telehealth reforms.
Supply on the Image of a Prescription and additions to Appendix D
Telehealth scripts (excl. S4D and S8) when transmitted as an image do not need the original paper based prescription to be sent to the pharmacy from now until 4th April 2021.
The steps for image-based prescribing and dispensing are:
- Prescriber issues a prescription, including a physical handwritten signature
- Prescriber sends an image-based prescription to the patient’s pharmacy of choice by email or fax
- The prescriber should indicate that the original has been retained by them
Pharmacist dispenses the prescription, prints a copy and endorses it as per usual Pharmacist arranges delivery or pick up by the patient, carer or patient's agent Pharmacist keeps any repeats and all prescriptions for two years. Does NOT apply to S4D and S8 prescriptions All repeats must be supplied and held in the same pharmacy as the original supply. For a prescription issued with repeats, print the repeat authorisation form as normal and attach it to the printed copy of the image-based prescription and store them together at the pharmacy for future dispensing.
There are no changes to issuing and dispensing prescriptions for S4D and S8 medicines. A prescriber may still direct a pharmacist to dispense S8 and S4D medicines by telephone, email or fax, and the paper-based prescription must be sent to the pharmacist within 24 hours.
As a reminder, the following medicines are now included in Appendix D as prescribed restricted substances (S4D):
- pregabalin
- quetiapine
- tramadol
- zolpidem
- zopiclone
NSW Health Image-Based Prescriptions for Community Pharmacies Information
Masks
Pharmacy staff are advised to not wear face masks as a precautionary measure.
P2/N95 respirator masks are not required to be worn by patients without symptoms unless they are immunocompromised and have been directed to do so by their treating specialist.
Unless masks are used correctly they are unlikely to protect against airborne pathogen spread.
Returning To Work Post-Isolation
A joint statement from the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) and Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN) with the revised Australian criteria for the release from isolation of people who have recovered from COVID-19.
Community Pharmacy OTP Dosing Points
Information from Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Advice for Immunisation Services During COVID-19
Updated advice has been provided by NSW Health to assist with planning and managing vaccinations clinics while coinciding with the COVID-19 response.
Immunisation providers should continue to offer immunisation services with enhanced infection control measures.
Advice for Immunisation Services During COVID-19