The Oncology Pharmacy (within the Illawarra Cancer Care Centre) provides medicines for patients being treated at the Illawarra Cancer Care Centres.

When to access this service

When you need a supply of medicines as an inpatient, at discharge or for specialist medications as an outpatient.  The pharmacy does not supply medicines that you would normally obtain from your local community pharmacy.

What to expect

If you are admitted to hospital a pharmacist may talk to you about the medicines that you have been taking before you came to hospital.  When you are discharged from hospital, the pharmacy can supply items at no charge as directed by the hospital's guidelines. A supply of newly prescribed PBS items will also be provided to cover the period required to arrange supply from a local community pharmacy. A pharmacist can provide advice and printed information on your current and new medications and a medication list where appropriate.  If you are staying in the hospital then you may be visited by one of the pharmacists on the ward to ask you about your medicines. Please feel free to ask us about your medicines.

If you attend an outpatient clinic you may be asked to collect medication from the pharmacy. We can also arrange collection from one of our other sites if this is more convenient.

Please feel free to ask us about your medicines.

What to bring

It is important for both planned and unplanned visits to hospital that you bring your current medications with you or an up-to-date medication list.

If you are accessing the pharmacy for outpatient prescriptions you should bring your Medicare card; any pension, concession or healthcare card; and any PBS safety net card.

Collecting a prescription

No appointment is necessary for the pharmacy departments providing an outpatient service.  If you are collecting a regular prescription please call us in advance so we can get it ready for you to collect. This will reduce the time you have to wait.