Medication during my hospital stay

It is important for your medical team to know exactly what medicines you are taking in case they interact with medicines used in hospital.

Pharmacy can provide written information to patients, such as consumer medicine information leaflets and discharge medicines lists.

If you have any concerns or have experienced any unexpected or troublesome side effects from your medicines, let your pharmacist, nurse or doctor know.

If you require any medicines on discharge, you will receive a prescription and can purchase your medication at the hospital pharmacy or your local community pharmacy. Your ward pharmacist will be able to discuss your medicines in more detail as part of your hospital discharge.

What to bring

• Your medications.
• Your Medicare card.
• Your Health Care Card, Pension card or safety net card (if you have one).

Cost of Medications

You will be charged a contribution fee for all medicines that are dispensed from our pharmacy at discharge or as an outpatient. The amount of the patient contribution fee is determined by commonwealth and state regulations and adjusted every year on 1st January in line with the consumer price index (CPI).

If you choose to get your medications from the hospital, you will get a payment advice which you can pay on the day of discharge with cash, EFTPOS, MasterCard, Visa or cheque or an invoice will be posted to your home.

If you believe you may experience difficulty in paying for your prescribed discharge medications please talk to your nurse, midwife, doctor or the KEMH Social Work department during your stay in hospital.

Cashier

Opening hours: 8:45am to 4:45pm, Monday to Friday (closed weekends and public holidays).

Medicine Information line

The Obstetric Medicines Information Service at WNHS provides mothers, families and health professionals information about the safe use of medicines during pregnancy and when breastfeeding.

The Medication Safety Line is available on (08) 6458 2723 and provides information to women anywhere across Western Australia between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Women, unsure of the effects of medication either prescribed or over the counter, can call to receive reassurance from qualified Pharmacists.

Often uncertain about the safety of taking medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the line provides an enormously valuable resource for WA Women.

Medicines information in pregnancy and breastfeeding - helpline (PDF)

Visit WNHS Library Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Medicines Information Hub for other resources on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Medicines Information.