Nepean Hospital’s Director of Pharmacy, Ruby Samson, who has worked at Nepean Hospital’s Pharmacy Department since 1999, says the new pharmacy will be a game-changer for the hospital, with improved efficiency and better access for staff, patients, and the community.
“I’ve seen the hospital change and go through so much growth, and the new pharmacy will better meet the growing demand for our services and cater for the needs of our community,” Ruby said.
On average, the Pharmacy Department gets about 300 medication requests for inpatients a day, in addition to discharged and outpatient medication requests.
The Pharmacy Department provides Outpatient Pharmacy services for patients who require high-cost medications that are not PBS subsidised following consultation at the Hospital’s specialty day clinics including Women and Children’s, Liver, Renal, Neurology, and Oncology.
Almost three times the size of the previous pharmacy, the new Pharmacy Department features an improved patient waiting area, a dedicated clinical trials area, patient counselling rooms and an upgraded aseptic suite.
The pharmacy aseptic service provides a sterile environment to manufacture medications, injectable medications and specialised nutrition for preterm babies.
Ruby also said it was more efficient because previously the hospital had to rely on an external manufacturing company to make the compounds and deliver them to the hospital.
“We have upgraded to include a new cytotoxic suite so we can compound specialised cancer medications. This is so exciting! We will be able to compound seven days a week and patients can start their medications earlier as we will soon have the capability to do so,” Ruby said.
The new Pharmacy location on Level 2 of Building D is also more accessible for both staff and patients.
“It’s really central to everything which is crucial because patients need to be able to find us easily and quickly,” Ruby said.
“It will be close to the operating theatres and surgical areas in Building A.”
To support the transition, new campus signage is being installed and outpatients will be given directions by the relevant specialist clinics.
Operating hours to the pharmacy will remain the same (8.30am-5pm on weekdays and 9.00am-1pm on weekends).
Important to note, the Nepean Hospital Pharmacy Department is not a retail chemist. Patients who require a chemist can access several community pharmacies near the Hospital campus.
