Our Pharmacy team supports the safe, effective and affordable use of medicines throughout our health service.
About this service
The Pharmacy team supports people admitted to hospital (‘inpatients’) as well as some patients attending hospital clinics and day therapy units (‘outpatients’).
We provide:
- A clinical pharmacy service which provides advice and support to doctors and nurses when making decisions about your care.
- Production and supply services to make medicines in forms that aren’t available from manufacturers.
- Quality, safety and research services including a medicines information service, support for clinical trials, and undertaking safety and quality activity to improve medicines use.
Who we care for
We care for all inpatients admitted to Canberra Hospital and University of Canberra Hospital as well as some outpatients who attend hospital clinics and day therapy units.
We also provide a range of services to the Walk-in Centres, Alexander McConachie Centre, Dhulwa, Bimberi Youth Justice Centre and other community care centres.
There is also a Pharmacy Service for North Canberra Hospital.
How to access this service
Inpatients
You don’t need to do anything to access our services when you’re an inpatient at one of our hospitals.
If you would like to speak with a pharmacist, you can ask your treating team to request a pharmacist review.
Outpatients
Outpatient services are provided to patients of Canberra Hospital who have been prescribed certain medicines. While most prescriptions are written for you to take to a community pharmacy of your choice, some medicines are only available through the hospital pharmacy.
If you have questions about how to access medicines from the pharmacy as an outpatient, contact us by emailing CHS.PharmacyOutpatients@act.gov.au Alternatively, you can call us on (02) 5124 8622.
What to expect
Inpatients
In most areas, a clinical pharmacist will visit you while you are in hospital.
We will talk with you about medicines you were taking before you came to hospital and will discuss any changes to your medicines as they are made.
We will provide you with information on new medicines and will be available to answer your questions and provide you with any written information you require.
You might see the pharmacist each day alongside your medical team when they visit you, or they might visit you separately. The pharmacist will help you plan for discharge (leaving hospital), helping to arrange any services that you may need from your community pharmacy. Behind the scenes, the pharmacist will be working to make sure you get the best from your medicines.
When you are discharged, we need around two hours to prepare your medicines, making sure that there are clear instructions provided to you and your GP about what medicines and doses you are now taking.
We will also provide you with three business days’ supply of new medicines to enable you to see your GP after discharge. When needed, we will make you a clear list of the medicines that you are prescribed as well as any changes that have been made while you have been in hospital.
Outpatients
If you receive medicines from the pharmacy as an outpatient, we ask that you provide us with three business days’ notice before you need to collect it. Giving us plenty of notice allows us to order in more stock if it is needed.
If you leave your prescriptions with us on file and email or call in advance, we will have your medicines ready when you arrive to collect. We offer a drive through service and can bring medicines to your car. Please call us on (02) 5124 8622 when you are ready to collect your medicines.
What to bring to your appointment
- Medicare card
- Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
- Medicines you need to take while you are here
- List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
Where we’re located
We have five pharmacies across Canberra Health Services:
Main Pharmacy
This is located on the street level of building 1 at Canberra Hospital. This is the pharmacy that most people use and where we provide our outpatient services from.
Oncology Pharmacy
We have a specialist oncology pharmacy in the Canberra Region Cancer Centre (building 19 on the Garran campus). While the pharmacy is not accessible to patients, pharmacists visit the clinics on level 4 of the Cancer Centre.
Justice Health Pharmacy
We provide services to Justice Health. This pharmacy is not accessible to the public and is dedicated to packing medicines for patients within Alexander McConachie Centre, Bimberi Youth Justice Centre and Dhulwa.
University of Canberra Hospital
The Pharmacy at University of Canberra Hospital is located in the main foyer. It services all of UCH and the Extended Care Unit located in Bruce.
We have directions and transport information for these services.
North Canberra Hospital Pharmacy
We provide pharmacy services for inpatients at North Canberra Hospital, as well as limited, specialised outpatient services.
The Pharmacy Service for North Canberra Hospital has more information.