These resources can be used to:
- support timely access to symptom control medicines in the community
- support health professionals with handling and administering medicine to palliative care patients living at home
- develop detailed policies and procedures tailored to individual clinical services or facilities
- support quality improvement by comparing current practice against National Palliative Care Standards and identify areas for improvement.
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National Core Community Palliative Care Medicines List
The List identifies four medicines to manage common symptoms in the terminal phase for home-based patients requiring urgent symptom relief.
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Example policy and procedures: Supporting carers/families to help manage breakthrough symptoms safely using subcutaneous medicines in the home
The policy and procedure document can be used by clinical services to develop or review their own policies and procedures.
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Guidelines for the handling of palliative care medicines in community services
The Guidelines represent a consensus-based approach to the handling of palliative care medicines by community services, and consider jurisdictional legislative requirements, policies and guidelines across all Australian states and territories.
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National Palliative Care Standards and resource mapping
caring@home resources, tools, and educational activities support service alignment with the National Palliative Care Standards.
Medicine handling legislation
Australian Capital Territory - Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008
New South Wales - Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008
Northern Territory - Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulations 2014
Queensland - Medicines and Poisons Act 2019
South Australia - Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulations 2011
Tasmania - Poisons Regulations 2018
Victoria - Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017
Western Australia - Medicines and Poisons Regulations 2016