South Australians will have better access to palliative care medicines at community pharmacies, allowing them to continue treatment at home and avoid visiting an Emergency Department.

From 16 February, the Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network will ensure access to core palliative care medicines for people with life-limiting illnesses, including after-hours access in urgent situations.

The state government will provide $250,000 over four years to support the initiative, commissioning the Pharmacy Guild of Australia to manage the network of pharmacies.

Thirty community pharmacies located across metropolitan and regional South Australia – including Terry White Chemmarts in Kangaroo Island (Kingscote), Normanville and Victor Harbor - are participating in the network.

At times it may be difficult for those seeking palliative care medicines to locate them at a community pharmacy, as they expire relatively quickly.

The network pharmacies will keep a minimum stock of the core palliative care medicines and provide critical support, information and advice to palliative care patients, their families and carers, and other health professionals.

The Palliative Care Medicines Pharmacy Network will complement existing community pharmacy and health services to better support patients and their carers.

For more information, including a list of participating community pharmacies, visit the website.

The federal government has also launched the Palliative Care Connect service, providing information and connecting terminally ill patients and their families with appropriate care and support services.

Trained Palliative Care Navigators are now available to guide and support patients, families and healthcare professionals across South Australia, through the early days of a new diagnosis of a life-limiting illness from a dedicated support and information phone line.

Palliative Care Navigators can also help connect patients to local community supports to enable them to stay at home longer, so they don’t need to be transferred to a hospital.

Patients, families and healthcare professionals can call 1800 725 548 Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 4pm to speak with a Palliative Care Navigator.

 Voicemail is available after hours for a call back the following business day.

People can also request a call back from a Navigator by filling out the call back form on the Palliative Care Connect website.