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Acknowledgement
The Women's and Children's Hospital is located on the traditional lands for the Kaurna people, and we respect their spiritual relationship with their Country. We also acknowledge that the Kaurna people are the custodians of the Adelaide region, and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Kaurna people today.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of people who have passed away.

The Hospital Pharmacy is on the ground floor in the Kermode Street Foyer. The Pharmacy can dispense prescriptions for WCH patients.

Changes to the delivery of outpatient medicines from 17 April 2023

Since March 2020, SA Pharmacy has been providing free delivery of medicines to patients to reduce the need for patients to come to a hospital to collect their medicines during the pandemic. This was a public health initiative to reduce the COVID-19 transmission and to reduce the foot traffic in our hospitals.

Prior to the pandemic, postal and courier services were only offered to some patients based on criteria such as travelling distance (e.g. patients located in regional and remote areas), and other circumstances, decided on a case-by-case basis.

As we move to a more sustainable model of managing and living with COVID-19, as of 17 April 2023, patients who do not meet the above criteria will need to collect their medicines from the hospital. Postage remains available as an option for patients located in regional and remote areas. A $10 service fee will apply, unless you are a patient registered with the SA Health ‘Closing the Gap’ Programme.

We appreciate the return, to normal arrangements, of collecting medicines from the hospital may cause some inconvenience for a small group of patients.

If your circumstances do not meet the above criteria and you require delivery of medicines to continue, please contact one of our dispensary team on 8161 7350 to discuss your specific needs.

Please see the Accessing Medicines from Public Hospitals fact sheet for further information.

Accessing Medicines from Public Hospital Pharmacies – April 2023

Who are we?

The Pharmacy Department at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) provides safe and efficient pharmacy services to inpatients, outpatients, carers and healthcare professionals across all clinical areas at the WCH. In addition, the Pharmacy Department provides services to a range of Community based services of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN).

We supply medications to all areas of the hospital and provide ward-based clinical pharmacy services across the WCH. Additionally, we host on-site pharmacy manufacturing services, the SA Pharmacy Medicines Information Service, Haematology/Oncology pharmacy service, clinical trials support and provide a range of education and training programs.

Services we provide

The WCH Pharmacy team helps by:

  • Providing important information, and answering questions, about your or your child’s medications
  • Co-ordinating and supplying new and ongoing medications to hospital in-patients, after an out-patient appointment and on discharge
  • Conducting regular reviews throughout your or your child’s hospital stay, in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team, to ensure that you or they are receiving the safest and most effective medication
  • Offering a medication ordering service (where you can place an order for medications online ahead of time) and a postal service for metro and regional patients.
  • Answering your questions about medications for you or your child through our Statewide SA Pharmacy Medicines Information Service.
  • Preparing and manufacturing a range of sterile and non-sterile medications onsite, including injectable medications, anti-cancer medications (chemotherapy) and a range of oral liquid formulations
  • Sourcing hard-to-obtain medications, including from overseas if necessary
  • Supporting clinical trials and research into new medications.

Services not provided

  • The Pharmacy Department can only supply medications prescribed on a hospital prescription.
  • The Pharmacy Department does not sell any pharmacy supplies e.g. over-the-counter medicines (e.g. paracetamol, ibuprofen).

Ordering medications

If you are outside the hospital

If you keep your prescription at the WCH Pharmacy, you can order medications ahead of time via our Repeat Medication Ordering Service. This service includes collection or home delivery.

Find out more about the Medication ordering service:

If you are in the hospital

Inpatient medications and discharge medications will be organised through your ward. On occasion you may be given a prescription which can be filled either at our pharmacy or taken to your local pharmacy. Please check if this is appropriate for your prescription.

For outpatient prescriptions, you can present to the Ground Floor Dispensary, just inside the Kermode Street entrance. For Haematology and Oncology patients you may wish to order your medications from the Haematology/Oncology Pharmacy when attending the Michael Rice Centre for Haematology and Oncology.

For urgent supply

For urgent supply of medications, please visit WCH Pharmacy in person during our opening hours. You may need to wait for your medications to be prepared. Manufactured products may require a number of days to prepare.

If you are using our repeat medication ordering service and require urgent medication supply, you will be prompted when completing the form and a phone number provided to call during our opening hours.

Collecting medications

The Pharmacy Department has two dispensaries where medications can be collected.

  • The main dispensary is on the Ground Floor of the WCH, just inside the Kermode Street entrance.
  • There is a dispensary in the Michael Rice Centre for Haematology and Oncology specifically for patients seen within that clinical service.

The WCH Pharmacy provides medications and advice for any woman or child attending a WCH Outpatient clinic.

Patients, parents and carers can also use the online medication ordering service to pre-order their medications and collect them at a convenient time or have them delivered to their home.

For our location and opening times, please see below.

What you need to provide

When you come to have a prescription filled by us, you will need to provide the following information:

  • Identity cards: Medicare, Concession and Safety Net cards
  • Your Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status
  • Advice on any previous allergies or drug reactions you or your child have or have had in the past
  • Details of other medications you or your child are taking, including:
    • medicines prescribed by a GP or specialist
    • vitamins
    • supplements
    • herbal remedies
    • inhalers
    • creams
    • items bought at a pharmacy or health food store.

Need some advice?

If you are outside the hospital

Call our SA Pharmacy Medicines Information Service, which is available to answer any queries you may have regarding your or your child’s medications. The SA Pharmacy Medicines Information Service is a free service for all South Australians. Our pharmacists provide advice about medicines in adults and children, and also about the use of medicines during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

WCH Medicines Information

Telephone: (08) 8161 7555
Email: medinfo@sa.gov.au
Hours of service: Monday to Friday – 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

For information regarding poisoning call the 24-hours Australia-wide Poisons Information line (Telephone: 13 11 26)

If you are in the hospital

Ask to speak to a pharmacist either on the ward or at the Ground Floor or Haematology/Oncology pharmacies.

Contact

Ground Floor Pharmacy

Phone: (08) 8161 7350
Email: Health.WCHPharmacy@sa.gov.au

Haematology/Oncology Pharmacy

Phone: (08) 8161 8161

SA Pharmacy Medicines Information Service

Telephone: (08) 8161 7555
Email: medinfo@sa.gov.au

Pharmacy Reception

Telephone: (08) 8161 8350

Hours and locations

Ground Floor Pharmacy

Ground Floor, Kermode Street Entrance, Zone A
Monday to Friday – 8.30 am to 6.00 pm
Weekends and Public Holidays – 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
View map

Haematology/Oncology Pharmacy

In the Michael Rice Centre, Level 5, Gilbert Building (Zone C)
Monday to Friday – 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
View map

SA Pharmacy Medicines Information Service

Monday to Friday – 9.00 am to 5.00 pm