Schedule 8 medicines management – tips to avoid the pitfalls
Schedule 8 medicines, in particular opioids, are often involved in notifications to PDL. An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report on opioid harm in Australia, published in 2018, highlighted that three people die every day from drug-induced deaths involving opioid use, while nearly 150 hospitalisations and 14 emergency department admissions occur every day involving […]
UTIPP-Q pilot will transition to permanent service
PDL is pleased to provide further information to pharmacists practising in Queensland about the UTIPP-Q pilot program and recent announcements. The following advice is directed to all Qld pharmacists and pharmacies, and provided by the consortium overseeing the UTIPP-Q pilot program. The Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services made an announcement late last Thursday […]
PDL appoints new Director for NSW and the ACT
Following the retirement of Curtis Ruhnau, PDL is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Galbraith as the new Director for NSW and the ACT. Amanda is a high-level executive with experience as a community pharmacist and community pharmacy owner, board director and credentialled diabetes educator. She brings considerable leadership, stakeholder engagement, and finance and […]
Lapsed PI and Notice of Relevant Events
Lapsed Professional Indemnity insurance arrangements – Section 130(3)(a)(iii), National Law In busy working life, the renewal of professional indemnity insurance can easily be missed. Common occasions when we have seen pharmacists miss the renewal of their professional indemnity insurance include: Upon return from an approved leave of absence (such as a sabbatical or extended leave) […]
UTIPP-Q pilot extended
Pharmacists practising in Queensland are advised the UTIPP-Q pilot program has been extended. The following message to participating pharmacists from the Consortium managing the pilot outlines the extension. Dear UTIPP-Q pharmacist, Thank-you for your participation in the pilot so far. The implementation in Queensland has been a great success so far with over 9,000 women […]
RTPM and your responsibilities
PDL Professional Officers have observed an increase in formal requests for information regarding dispensed medicines from the Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) sections of health departments. In most cases, the request for information is regarding the following issues: Large quantities of monitored medicine dispensed to a single patient over a short period Doses and quantities […]
Reflecting on ConPharm 2022
PDL representatives Gilbert Yeates (Qld Director) and Gary West (Professional Officer and Qld Local Advisory Committee Chair) were pleased to attend ConPharm 2022 at Sea World Resort and speak with many accredited pharmacists. As expected, these highly engaged pharmacists had many questions for the PDL representatives, and we believe it’s helpful to share some of […]
Vaccination reminder
The recent surge in demand for influenza vaccines has also seen a rise in the number of vaccine-related calls and incident reports to PDL. This increase may be associated with some pharmacists experiencing vaccination fatigue or making assumptions that past high numbers of this service mean that process review is unnecessary. Such conditions may increase […]
Vaccinating for winter
As winter approaches, pharmacies will be very busy providing vaccinations against influenza (flu) as well as administering COVID-19 fourth doses (winter doses) or boosters. As many brands of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will be available, pharmacists should take extra care to ensure that the requested vaccine is provided. This can be achieved by consulting the […]
PDL Director for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
Due to the impending retirement of Curtis Ruhnau, expressions of interest are invited by PDL for the position of Director for New South Wales (with responsibility also for the Australian Capital Territory). A casual vacancy will exist from 1st July 2022 until the PDL Annual General Meeting in 2025. Qualifications for this position include: Registered […]
