Our team comprises of:

• Clinical Pharmacists who can provide specialised knowledge in medications and provide advice to patients and other Health Care Professionals on dosing, potential interactions, and side effects of different medications.
• Pharmacy technicians who are responsible for dispensing medications and ensuring their timely delivery to you. They also offer support to the pharmacists in undertaking patient care.
• Our store and administrative personnel who oversee medication inventory management and ensure medications are accessible within the hospital wards.

In addition to working with your healthcare team, we also partner with your general practitioner (GP) and Community Health Services, as well as local pharmacies.

• Medicare card
• Concession or pension card (if you have one)
• Bring all your medicines with you. This includes prescription medicines including puffers, eye drops and creams as well as those you have bought without a prescription (includes herbal and alternative medicines). Please bring the original boxes.

• The nurses in the hospital will be responsible for administering your medications. It is important not to self-administer your own medications while you are in the hospital unless instructed to do so by your nurse or pharmacist.
• During your hospital stay, your medications may change. You may commence on new medications and some medications may be discontinued. Your hospital doctors should always involve you in these decisions and provide information about your treatment options.
• When you are discharged from the hospital, the pharmacy department may provide you with a small supply of any new medications or medications with changed dosages. You will need to schedule an appointment with your GP within five days of leaving the hospital to obtain prescriptions for any ongoing or new medications you may require.
• Before you are discharged, your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor will explain the medications you need to take at home, how to take them, the duration of treatment, and proper storage. They may also provide you with a list of your medications.
• Information leaflets about each medication are also available to help you better understand your medications. If you have any questions or need more information about your medications, you can ask your nurse, midwife, or doctor to contact the pharmacist.
• If you wish to speak to a pharmacist before leaving the hospital, please inform the nursing staff so that they can arrange for a pharmacist to meet with you.

The brand names of medications may sometimes be different to your usual medications. The active ingredient is responsible for the effects of the medication. The brand name is the name assigned by the pharmaceutical company. There might be several different brand names for the same medication. Therefore, the medication you get in the hospital might look different and have a different name compared to the one you are given at home (the hospital may not stock the same brand you have at home). If you have any concerns talk to the pharmacist, nurse or doctor.

While you are in the hospital, a pharmacist or doctor might come to see you to discuss your medications. They will inquire about the medications you are currently prescribed, how you are taking them, and if you're encountering any problems. They may offer suggestions to make it easier for you to take your medications, and if any medicines are not providing the expected benefits, they may discontinue them. This is also an opportunity for you to have a conversation about your medications and ask any questions you may have. This process is known as a medication review.

When you are discharged from the hospital, it is important to inform your GP, community pharmacist, and other healthcare providers about any changes made to your medications during your hospital stay. If you have been provided with a list of your medications when you left the hospital, be sure to bring it with you when you visit your GP and community pharmacist so that they can update their records accordingly. If you no longer require a particular medication, bring any remaining doses back to your local pharmacy for proper disposal.

If you require guidance or have questions once you are back home, you can either consult your local community pharmacist or contact the hospital pharmacy by phone.

There is no charge for medicines used when you are an inpatient and have a Medicare card.

If you present to the pharmacy with a prescription from the outpatient clinic, there may be a charge for your medications. The pharmacy staff will let you know what those charges are.

Healthdirect - 1800 022 222

Healthdirect is a health information service in Australia. It offers online health information and advice.

MotherSafe - 9382 6539 (Sydney Metropolitan Area)  1800 647 848 (Non-Metropolitan Area)

Mothersafe is a free telephone service, based at the Royal Hospital for Women. It provides a counselling service for women concerned about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

NSW Poisons Information Centre - 13 11 26

The Poisons Information Centre provides the latest information on poisons. You can ring 24 hours a day.

Staying Safe with Your Medicines

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

What happens when you bring your prescription to the pharmacy?

The pharmacy can dispense prescriptions written in the hospital’s clinics by our doctors.

When you come to the pharmacy with you prescription we will need to:

•  Confirm your details (name, date of birth)
•  Check your allergies
•  Ask you some more questions about other medicines you may be taking
•  Check your Medicare Card
•  Check your concession card / pension card (if you have one)
•  Send you to the cashier to pay for your medicine

Prescription Charges

You will need to pay for the medicines we supply to you. The cost depends on if you have a Medicare and a concession or pension card. This cost changes every year.

You will be given a receipt to take to the cashier with your payment. Once you have paid you can return to the pharmacy to collect your medicines.
Please note that we are not always able to give you the repeats on your prescription. The pharmacist will explain this to you when they hand you your medicine.

Patient Information

We do our best to make sure the medicine you receive is correct and safe for you. We will also help you understand how to use eye drops and eye ointments or other medicines. We can also give you written advice on your medicines.
Please make sure you ask for more information if you need it.

What to expect from the pharmacist when you are in hospital

The pharmacist helps all patients that come to the hospital with their medicines. They work with nurses, doctors and other staff, to make sure all medicines are used safely in the hospital.    

The pharmacist will come and see you on the ward. They will ask you about the medicines you take at home. They will make sure all the medicines you take at home are written down for the doctors and nurses.

The pharmacist will supply the medicines you need while in hospital. You may get new medicines when you are in hospital. The pharmacist will give you advice on any new or changed medicine.

The pharmacist will ask you about allergies and side effects to medications. They will look at the list of medicines you are having every day and make sure these are helping you.

The pharmacist may work with your family doctor and your regular pharmacy. They can inform them of any changes to your medicines.

If you have any questions on your medicines please ask to speak to the pharmacist. You can tell the nurse that you would like to speak to them.

Taking medicines when you are in the hospital

You will be given the hospital’s medicines during your stay.

Do not take any of your own medicines while you are in hospital. The nurse will store your medicines in a safe place. They will be given back to you when you go home.

Your nurse will prepare and give you your medicines when you are in hospital. If you think that the medicine the nurse is giving you looks different to what you usually take, talk to the nurse before taking it.

Do not forget to ask for your medicines before you go home.

Going home from hospital

Before you go home, the pharmacist will explain how to take your medicines. The pharmacist will:
• Answer any questions you may have about your medicines
• Give you advice on how they work and any side effects
• Give you written advice about the new medicine if you need it
• Sometimes they may need contact your local pharmacist and family doctor before you go home

Usually, only new medicines that were started in hospital will be supplied when you go home. Up to 5 days’ supply is given. You will need to see your family doctor to get prescriptions for more supply.

It is very important that you know what new medicines have been started, what medicines have been stopped or any changes to your treatment.

What medicines should I bring to hospital?

Bring all of your medicines with you. This includes prescription medicines and those you have bought without a prescription (includes herbal and alternative medicines).

Will I be charged for medications?

There is no charge for medicines used when you are an inpatient and have a Medicare card. There is no charge if you are from a country with a health care agreement with Australia.

If you present to the pharmacy with a prescription from the outpatient clinic you will be charged for the medicine. The pharmacy staff will let you know what those charges are.

What do I need to bring with me?

• Medicare card
• Concession or pension card (if you have one)
• All the medicines you are taking at home. Please bring the original boxes

Our team includes:

Pharmacists who have expert knowledge about medicines including potential side effects, dosing and interactions between different drugs.

Pharmacy technicians who dispense medicines and make sure your medicines get to you when you need them. They also provide support to the Pharmacists.

Our store and administrative staff who manage our stock of medicines and ensure medications are available on the wards.

In addition to members of your healthcare team, we work in partnership with your general practitioner (GP), Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services and local pharmacies.

It is important to keep a list of ALL the medicines that you take (including prescriptions medicines, vitamins, creams, eye drops, inhalers, patches, injections) and bring this list with you when you come to hospital. It is important to always keep this list up to date.

If you don't have a list, bring all your medicines in a bag, including any herbal or over the counter medicines.

If you do bring your medicines with you, your nurse may take them from you and store them safely. Make sure they are returned to you when you leave hospital. If you have a relative or carer they could also take the medicines home for you.

If you are admitted into hospital you will be asked what medicines you take (do not be concerned if you are asked more than once during your stay, we need to check we have the correct information). This helps us to make sure you receive the correct medicine while you are in hospital and helps us identify any potential medicine related problems. Please let us know if any of your medicines have changed recently.

If you are allergic or sensitive to some medicines please let your doctor, pharmacist or one of the nurses know so we can document this in your medical record and make sure you are not given any of these medicines.

The nurses will give you your medicines while you are in hospital. Do not take your own medicines while you are in hospital unless your nurse or pharmacist tells you to.

While you are in hospital you may be given some new medicines to take and asked to stop taking some of the medicines you normally take. Your hospital doctors should always include you in these decisions and provide you with information about your treatment options.

When you leave hospital the pharmacy department will only give you a small supply of any new medicines and medicines where the amount you need to take has changed. It is best to make an appointment to see your GP within 5 days of leaving hospital so that you can get prescriptions for any ongoing or new medicines if you need them.

When you leave hospital your pharmacist, nurse or doctor will explain what medicines you will need to take when you go home, how to take them, how long to take them for and how to store them safely. A medicines list may also be provided, or you can ask for one.

Information leaflets are also available on each medicine to help you understand your medicines better. You can ask your nurse or doctor to contact the pharmacist if you have any questions about your medicines or would like more information.

If you want to see a pharmacist before you leave hospital, please ask the nursing staff to arrange for the pharmacist to visit you.

Medicine names can be confusing. The active ingredient is the name of the chemical in the medicine that makes it work. The brand name is the name given by the pharmaceutical company.  There may be quite a few brands of the same medicine. The medicine you receive in hospital may look different to the one you receive at home because the hospital keeps a different brand in stock.

During your hospital stay a pharmacist or doctor may visit and go through your medicines with you. They will ask about your medicines to understand what you take and how you actually take them. They may talk to you about suggestions to help taking your medicines easier and medicines which are not working may be stopped. It is also a time to talk about your medicines and ask questions. This is called a medicines review. For more information, see this fact sheet. 

When you leave hospital it is important to let your GP, community pharmacist and other health professionals know if any changes were made to your medicines while you were in hospital. If you were given a medicines list when you left hospital take it with you when you go to your GP and community pharmacist so that they can update their records. If you no longer need to take a certain medicine then take any you still have at home to your local pharmacy to be destroyed.

If you need advice once you are at home, you can talk to your local pharmacist, or phone the hospital pharmacy.

Healthdirect - 1800 022 222

Healthdirect is a health information service in Australia. It offers online health information and advice.

MotherSafe - 9382 6539 (Sydney Metropolitan Area)  1800 647 848 (Non-Metropolitan Area)

Mothersafe is a free telephone service, based at the Royal Hospital for Women. It provides a counselling service for women concerned about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

NPS Medicines Line – 1300 633424

NPS Medicines Line is a telephone service providing information on medicines. When you call you will speak with an experienced registered nurse. Your question may be answered on the spot, or you may be referred to your GP or pharmacist, or another health professional.

Poisons Information Centre -131126

The Poisons Information Centre provides the latest information on poisons. You can ring 24 hours a day.

Staying Safe with Your Medicines

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will not impact in any way on the services we will provide.

Our team includes:

Pharmacists who have expert knowledge about medicines including potential side effects, dosing and interactions between different drugs.

Pharmacy technicians who dispense medicines and make sure your medicines get to you when you need them. They also provide support to the Pharmacists.

Our store and administrative staff who manage our stock of medicines and ensure medications are available on the wards.

In addition to members of your healthcare team, we work in partnership with your general practitioner (GP), Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services and local pharmacies.

It is important to keep a list of ALL the medicines that you take (including prescriptions medicines, vitamins, creams, eye drops, inhalers, patches, injections) and bring this list with you when you come to hospital. It is important to always keep this list up to date.

If you don't have a list, bring all your medicines in a bag, including any herbal or over the counter medicines.

If you do bring your medicines with you, your nurse may take them from you and store them safely. Make sure they are returned to you when you leave hospital. If you have a relative or carer they could also take the medicines home for you.

If you are admitted into hospital you will be asked what medicines you take (do not be concerned if you are asked more than once during your stay, we need to check we have the correct information). This helps us to make sure you receive the correct medicine while you are in hospital and helps us identify any potential medicine related problems. Please let us know if any of your medicines have changed recently.

If you are allergic or sensitive to some medicines please let your doctor, pharmacist or one of the nurses know so we can document this in your medical record and make sure you are not given any of these medicines.

The nurses will give you your medicines while you are in hospital. Do not take your own medicines while you are in hospital unless your nurse or pharmacist tells you to.

While you are in hospital you may be given some new medicines to take and asked to stop taking some of the medicines you normally take. Your hospital doctors should always include you in these decisions and provide you with information about your treatment options.

When you leave hospital the pharmacy department will only give you a small supply of any new medicines and medicines where the amount you need to take has changed. It is best to make an appointment to see your GP within 5 days of leaving hospital so that you can get prescriptions for any ongoing or new medicines if you need them.

When you leave hospital your pharmacist, nurse or doctor will explain what medicines you will need to take when you go home, how to take them, how long to take them for and how to store them safely. A medicines list may also be provided, or you can ask for one.

Information leaflets are also available on each medicine to help you understand your medicines better. You can ask your nurse or doctor to contact the pharmacist if you have any questions about your medicines or would like more information.

If you want to see a pharmacist before you leave hospital, please ask the nursing staff to arrange for the pharmacist to visit you.

Medicine names can be confusing. The active ingredient is the name of the chemical in the medicine that makes it work. The brand name is the name given by the pharmaceutical company.  There may be quite a few brands of the same medicine. The medicine you receive in hospital may look different to the one you receive at home because the hospital keeps a different brand in stock.

During your hospital stay a pharmacist or doctor may visit and go through your medicines with you. They will ask about your medicines to understand what you take and how you actually take them. They may talk to you about suggestions to help taking your medicines easier and medicines which are not working may be stopped. It is also a time to talk about your medicines and ask questions. This is called a medicines review. For more information, see this fact sheet. 

When you leave hospital it is important to let your GP, community pharmacist and other health professionals know if any changes were made to your medicines while you were in hospital. If you were given a medicines list when you left hospital take it with you when you go to your GP and community pharmacist so that they can update their records. If you no longer need to take a certain medicine then take any you still have at home to your local pharmacy to be destroyed.

If you need advice once you are at home, you can talk to your local pharmacist, or phone the hospital pharmacy.

Healthdirect - 1800 022 222

Healthdirect is a health information service in Australia. It offers online health information and advice.

MotherSafe - 9382 6539 (Sydney Metropolitan Area)  1800 647 848 (Non-Metropolitan Area)

Mothersafe is a free telephone service, based at the Royal Hospital for Women. It provides a counselling service for women concerned about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

NPS Medicines Line – 1300 633424

NPS Medicines Line is a telephone service providing information on medicines. When you call you will speak with an experienced registered nurse. Your question may be answered on the spot, or you may be referred to your GP or pharmacist, or another health professional.

Poisons Information Centre -131126

The Poisons Information Centre provides the latest information on poisons. You can ring 24 hours a day.

Staying Safe with Your Medicines

Please let us know if you need an interpreter. You can contact us telephoning the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. Tell the operator what language you speak and then ask the interpreter to set up a telephone conversation between you, an interpreter, and the healthcare professional you want to speak with.

We are a teaching hospital and you may be asked to be involved in research. You have a right to say no. If you do so, this will not impact in any way on the services we will provide.