Involvement in your care, medicines and pain management at NALHN

You are an important member of your health care team, along with your nurses/midwives, doctors and allied health professionals. It is vital that you share information about your health with the other members of your health care team, especially if you notice any changes in your condition. Make sure you tell your health care team if you have any questions or concerns, so everyone can help decide on a shared plan that is best for your wellbeing.

Medicines

SA Health encourages patients to bring their own medicines from home into hospital. Please bring the medicines you are currently taking and your medicine list with you when you come to hospital.

Why should I bring in my own medicines?

Bringing your own medicines into hospital will assist hospital staff to:

  • have a complete and accurate picture of what medicines you are taking
  • make sure you are provided the correct medicines in hospital
  • ensure that medicines are available immediately when you need them
  • identify any problems that you may be having with your current medicines
  • enable you to take the brand of medicine you are familiar with (where appropriate)

What medicines should I bring to hospital?

You should bring in all medicines that you have been taking prior to hospital admission as well as your Medicines List (if available). This includes:

  • medicines prescribed by your doctor
  • medicines you have purchased from a pharmacy or supermarket (e.g. pain relief medicines, cold and flu medicines, creams and lotions etc.)
  • complementary and alternative medicines (e.g. medicinal products containing herbs, vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements, homeopathic medicines, traditional Chinese medicines, Ayurvedic medicines and Australian indigenous medicines).

Where possible, please bring in medicines in their original packs.

What is a Medicines List?

A Medicines List is a useful way to manage your medicines. It is a list of the current medicines you are taking along with other information about your medicines such as what the medicine is used for, how much to use and when to use it.

If you take medicines regularly SA Health recommends that you keep an up-to-date Medicines List and have it with you in case of emergency. You should bring this list whenever you go to hospital or visit a healthcare professional. If any changes are made to your regular medicines while you are in hospital or when you visit your doctors, you will need to make sure you update your Medicines List.

What will happen to my medicines?

When you come into hospital, staff will collect your medicines and a hospital staff member (pharmacist, doctor or nurse/midwife) will go through your medicines with you to determine what medicines you have been taking and if you have had any problems with these medicines.

Where appropriate, your medicines will be stored safely and securely at all times or returned home with a carer.

What if I forget to bring in all my medicines?

They will be supplied by the hospital during your stay in hospital. Your carer may be asked to bring in your medicines if your doctor needs them to work out what medicines you have been taking.

Will my medicines be used while I’m in hospital?

Your medicines may be used while you’re in hospital, depending on hospital policy and the suitability of your medicines for hospital use. Some medicines that you bring in may not be suitable for hospital use (e.g. medicines in dosettes, expired medicines).

Your own medicines will only be used while you’re in hospital with your approval and will never be used for any other patient. If you wish to use your own medicines while in hospital, please inform hospital staff. Staff will check your medicines to make sure they are suitable to use during your hospital stay. If your medicines are suitable for use during your admission, they will be stored securely and a nurse/midwife will give them to you at the correct time each day.

What if I need new medicines or there are changes to my usual medicines?

Any medicine started during your hospital stay will be supplied by the hospital. If your dose changes but the medicine remains the same, your medicines may be re-labelled with the new instructions.

What if I run out of my own medicines while in hospital?

If you require more of your current medicines during your hospital stay or on discharge, the hospital doctor and pharmacy will organise a supply for you.

You will need to bring your Medicare card and any pension/concession cards (including your Safety Net card) into hospital with you. Hospital prescribers will be able to write Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions for when, you are discharged from hospital, and when you attend an outpatient clinic, including for a range of chemotherapy medicines.

What will happen when I go home?

Hospital staff will review the medicines that you have been taking while in hospital and tell you which medicines you should take when you return home.

Your own medicines will be returned to you when you leave hospital, along with any additional medicines provided by the hospital. If your medicines are no longer suitable for use, hospital staff may dispose of your unwanted medicines, with your consent.

On discharge

Please make sure you update your Medicines List with any changes to your medicines when you leave hospital.

What happens to medicines I no longer need?

If you do not require a medicine when you leave hospital, the hospital can safely dispose of it for you.

Pain Management

Good pain control is important and can help you feel more comfortable and maybe even get well faster.

How can I be involved in my pain control?

Be involved in reporting your pain. It is important for your comfort and recovery that you tell the doctors and nurses/midwives about your pain. It helps us to:

  • know how well your treatment is working
  • choose the best form of pain relief for you.

Report your pain…

You will be regularly asked to score your pain on a scale. There is no right or wrong answer, everyone is different. We use your pain scores to guide pain treatment. It is harder to ease pain once it has become severe.

pain management chart - rate pain out of 10