Council News May 2022 

Council Message

Welcome to the May edition of the Pharmacy Council of NSW newsletter.

This month we bid farewell to our outgoing Council members; Mike Anderson, Majella Hill, Marina Holt and Susan Penny. We thank them for their invaluable contribution and utmost dedication. Their knowledge, experience and empathy has been crucial to the effective operation of the Council.

We warmly welcome our new council members; John Bronger, Caroline Diamantis, Kathleen Grey  and Quinn On. We thank them for their commitment to the protection of the public  and look forward to their valuable contribution in continuing this critical work of the Council.

In this newsletter we include an article on Social Media and the importance of vigilance in its use in our professional lives.

SafeScript NSW continues to roll out across the state and is now available in Northern Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains areas.  Please read on for more information including education and technical support resources.

A reminder to all pharmacists about the dangers of high dose fentanyl and the need to be vigilant when dispensing prescriptions for fentanyl and other high dose opioids. There continues to be a high number of forged prescriptions presented to pharmacists.

We also provide an update on significant changes coming to the way we process ownership applications which will make our procedures more efficient, and will offer greater convenience to pharmacists and pharmacy owners.

Please also be reminded that the keys to the Pharmacy can only be held by a pharmacist. This means that non pharmacist support staff are unable to hold the keys, even in situations where a locum is employed.

Veronica Murdoch
Deputy President, Pharmacy Council of NSW

Upcoming changes to registration processes for pharmacies and financial interests in pharmacy businesses

We are working hard to improve the way we process pharmacy ownership applications and are excited to let you know about a number of changes which will make our procedures more efficient, and will offer greater convenience to pharmacists and pharmacy owners.

What is changing now?

How you pay for fees for pharmacy ownership applications

Previously Council staff processed application fees on behalf of applicants. Starting now, pharmacists (or the person lodging the application) will complete the payment themselves on a secure payment platform hosted by Service NSW. This is a more efficient way to process payments and offers more payment options, including PayPal and PayID.

What is the new process?

1.     We will send an email to the contact for the application which will include a link to the new payment portal hosted by Service NSW.

2.     To pay the application fee (including any merchant fees), click on the link and follow the prompts.

3.     Once payment is made, you will receive an email with your payment receipt.

What else is changing?

Further changes coming in the next few months:

• The Register of Pharmacies will be available on the Service NSW website as well as the Pharmacy Council website.  
• The process for completing an annual declaration of financial interest in a pharmacy business will be a bit different this year. We will contact you soon with details of this change.

Keep an eye out for more updates coming soon.

Presentation of forged prescriptions

The NSW Ministry of Health is reminding pharmacists to carefully scrutinise the validity of Schedule 8 prescriptions prior to dispensing. This is because of increasing numbers of forged prescriptions dispensed for Schedule 8 drugs coming to attention. Diversion for illicit use presents very serious health and safety risks to individuals and the community generally.

Common features of fraudulently presented Schedule 8 prescriptions include:

• Prescriptions for opioids, especially high dose fentanyl and oxycodone, or alprazolam tablets presented by persons with no previous history at the pharmacy.
• Patient’s purported address may be from well outside the area of the pharmacy.
• The purported prescriber may not be known to the pharmacist and may be purportedly practising well outside the immediate area of the pharmacy.
• The telephone number of the purported prescriber may be a mobile phone number.
• Prescriptions may be presented as “private” prescriptions and for large quantities.
• Obvious spelling, format and language errors in the details on the prescription.
• Supplies at shorter intervals than would be expected, indicating excessive dosing or trafficking.’

While most pharmacists are fully compliant and aware of their professional and legal responsibilities, the Guide for Pharmacists is provided for assistance to ensure regulatory compliance in handling and dispensing Schedule 8 prescriptions (Ref Section 8.9 of the Guide)

To minimise diversion of these drugs for illicit use it is necessary to very closely scrutinise Schedule 8 prescriptions and exercise responsible professional judgement and common sense, in addition to complying with the regulatory requirements. Where available, accessing Safescript NSW can provide previous patient dispensing histories to assist in exercising professional judgement. Care must be taken to ensure that telephone numbers shown on prescriptions are the legitimate contact details of the purported prescriber.

For any clarification, please contact the Duty Pharmaceutical Officer on (02) 9391 9944 or email: MOH-PharmaceuticalServices@health.nsw.gov.au.

Professional conduct on Social Media

Social media is an easily accessible public forum which can be open to misinterpretation or used inappropriately.

Health practitioners must be alert to how inappropriate conduct on social media can lead to complaints of unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct.  The NSW Health Professional Councils have recently seen an upturn in the number of complaints about how some practitioners are using social media to express personal views on Covid related issues.

SafeScript NSW available in Northern Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains

Prescribers and pharmacists in Northern Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains areas are able to access SafeScript NSW, as part of Phase 2 of the system’s statewide rollout. If you are a pharmacist practicing in these areas and have not yet registered, you can do so here.  Registering is a simple process and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

SafeScript NSW will be available to all practising pharmacists statewide from late May 2022.

Pharmacists can complete a series of CPD eLearning modules (NPS MedicineWise sign-in required) and learn about the system and what support is available, including a dedicated 24/7 clinical advice line (1800 434 155), technical support and enhancements to local HealthPathways.

For more information, visit the SafeScript NSW website.

Recent NSW Tribunal decisions:

Health Care Complaints Commission v Darryl Knowles -

The Tribunal found the complaints of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct proven. The pharmacist is disqualified from being registered for 3 years.  

Health Care Complaints Commission v Qui Van Bui (no.2) - 

The Tribunal found the complaints of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct proven. The pharmacist’s registration is cancelled with the cancellation taking effect on 21 June 2022. He may not apply for a review of the Tribunal’s order for a period of 18 months from the date of cancellation.   

Useful links

The Pharmacy Board of Australia has published an advanced copy of the revised Code of conduct for pharmacists (the code). The code is based on a shared code for a number of professions. Its publication follows public consultation in 2021 by Ahpra and relevant National Boards.

A new Ahpra code of conduct webpage and advance copies of the following supporting resources have also been published:

• Code of conduct principles
• FAQs

The code and resources are being published in advance of them taking effect from 29 June 2022 to give stakeholders an opportunity to become familiar with them before the effect date.  The Board will publish further resources prior to 29 June 2022.

If you would like to provide feedback or make a complaint about our administrative and business processes, you can do this using our online form or by emailing us at mail@hpca.nsw.gov.au