Upskilling our community pharmacists to deliver quality palliative care

Palliative Care in Community Pharmacy Education Day event wrap up

The Palliative Care in Community Pharmacy Education Day was hosted by Brisbane North PHN’s Healthy Ageing team in late July, with 55 pharmacy professionals and delegates in attendance for an insightful day of education and networking amongst industry peers.

Community pharmacies are critical to the delivery of high quality at-home palliative care – without access to medication in the community, people with life-limiting conditions may be instead hospitalised to manage their symptoms. Many pharmacies have also been identified as experiencing barriers to supporting at-home palliative care.

This education event was designed to help pharmacists care for their local community when supporting at home palliative care, with 10 speakers and nine exhibitors all contributing to the day’s program.

Feedback showed the event was a resounding success that delivered on this goal, with all survey respondents saying they left satisfied, and an overwhelming majority further indicating that they would recommend the event to colleagues. Respondents were particularly complementary of the presenters.

Most importantly, 74 per cent said they would make change to their practice as a result of attending.

Pharmacist delegates said:

“… a wonderful education day catered to community pharmacy. Thank you [Brisbane North PHN] for organising such a wonderful day.”

"Thanks for putting together a friendly relaxed environment with opportunity for network with like-minded people… It is a one stop shop to equip pharmacists to 'step-up' in palliative care. Well done!”

Brisbane North PHN are committed to seeking and using attendee insights to improve future education events and inform further professional development opportunities. Materials from the education day will now be adapted into an online self-directed course, and continue to be evaluated for the following six months.

For more information, please contact the Palliative Care Projects Team.