A heads up to people planning a trip to Tasmania...
My wife, like so many others, is currently being treated for terminal cancer. We had a break in her treatment and decided to tick of one of her 'bucket list' items and return to Tasmania for a visit. We both lived there for over 30 years but never really had a holiday there. Before we went we obtained a prescription (pre dated) for the pain medication she requires. When the time came for this script to be filled we went off to a pharmacy in St Helens. Sue presented the script to be told that it could not be filled in any pharmacy in Tasmania. She would need to visit a Tasmanian doctor and have them write her a script.
This is not the case for all scripts but only for certain 'dangerous' medications. It appears that for all 'Dangerous Drugs' (such as this morphine based medication) the script has to be written by a Tasmanian doctor.
While I can understand the need to be careful surely a script written by a qualified doctor, regardless of where this doctor has their rooms, is legitimate. Surely a phone call to the doctor's clinic should suffice and not make the patient go and visit (and pay for) another doctor who has not got a clue about the history of the patient.
Is not Tasmania a part of Australia? Is it any wonder they are often left of the map of Australia. The people we travelled with, who are residents of Tasmania, were a little embarrassed about this situation and will be writing to their local member of parliament to ask questions.
It isn't just Tasmania. The only state you can fill a script written in another state is Qld. This is only opiates tho. Best getting a letter from your doctor before you leave. It is a problem and very hard to get for opiates but you may be able to get a schedule 24 script that will give you up to 4 months supply.
-- Edited by NeilandRaine on Tuesday 16th of February 2016 06:45:43 PM
It isn't just Tasmania. The only state you can fill a script written in another state is Qld. This is only opiates tho. Best getting a letter from your doctor before you leave. It is a problem and very hard to get for opiates but you may be able to get a schedule 24 script that will give you up to 4 months supply.
-- Edited by NeilandRaine on Tuesday 16th of February 2016 06:45:43 PM
We can go any where In Australia and go to see a doctor and He can see on the computer all my details from our GP
That is one good thing of big brother keeping an eye on us
I had a similar problem when I was last in Tassie Mike. Fortunately I had just enough med left until the day I arrived back in VIC so kept my money for VIC. Strange thing is Tassie is a State of Aus. Mmmmm.
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The "I Health" system is run by the Federal Department of Human Services and if anyone has tried to use Centrelink or Medicare on-line servies (a hugse waste of our time and everyones tax dollar), they will understand the "I Health" system is problematic to say the least (this is the system John is referring to above).
Many doctors are not yet connected to the service or the net server is often down and the other doctor cant view your details. You must give consent to your regular doctor to be on "I Health" (assuming he/she/they are connected to it).
It pays as others have suggested to get a list from your regular Doc. They are fairly standard and just printed out in a standard format, although if you are taking expensive or drugs that others would like for illicit use, it would be wise for your doctor to attach a letter detailing why you need these particular drugs. Any other reasonable doctor will contact your regular doctor if they need confirmation (just remember time zones in various States when making an appointment to see another doctor.
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
i saw this earlier so asked my Dr about it ,because i am on painkillers , she thought there should be no trouble , but will ask chemist today when i am in
I live in Tasmania. When I travel on the mainland, I've had scripts filled in W.A.; Victoria, NSW and Qld but none of my scripts are for Opiates. I take it you are already in Tasmania, so it's too late to get Reg. 24 Scripts from your Doctor as suggested by Neiland Raine. My suggestion would be to see a Tasmanian Doctor, have Reg 24 scripts issued to cover you for your time in Tassie, and if necessary have the Tassie Doctor talk to your regular Doctor for confirmation of the condition and the medication being used.
I am presently in Esperance W.A. visiting my son and his family. My Grandson is a Pharmicist here. When he wakes this morning I'll ask him about this and edit this post with his response
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Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
I live in Tasmania. When I travel on the mainland, I've had scripts filled in W.A.; Victoria, NSW and Qld but none of my scripts are for Opiates. I take it you are already in Tasmania, so it's too late to get Reg. 24 Scripts from your Doctor as suggested by Neiland Raine. My suggestion would be to see a Tasmanian Doctor, have Reg 24 scripts issued to cover you for your time in Tassie, and if necessary have the Tassie Doctor talk to your regular Doctor for confirmation of the condition and the medication being used.
I am presently in Esperance W.A. visiting my son and his family. My Grandson is a Pharmicist here. When he wakes this morning I'll ask him about this and edit this post with his response
Thanks BG. We are now back in Victoria. Sue had to visit a Tasmanian doctor who was happy to write her a script based on the fact she had one from the Victorian doctor. He was a bit confused about the situation too. A script written by a Tasmanian doctor can be filled in Victoria but a script written by a Victorian (and other State doctors) cannot be filled in Tasmania.
I look forward to hearing what your grandson has to say on this.
My Grandson said this is standard practise nation wide with any drugs that have the potential for abuse. These drugs are kept in a safe and have to be accounted for during a Health Dept. inspection. Some Pharmicists maybe be prepared to let a prescription slip through if the requirement was extremely urgent, but at his risk. He could not legally dispense this category of drug in W.A. on a prescription from interstate.
So there you have it...
-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 11:28:51 AM
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Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..
I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken
Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
My Grandson said this is standard practise nation wide with any drugs that have the potential for abuse. These drugs are kept in a safe and have to be accounted for during a Health Dept. inspection. Some Pharmicists maybe be prepared to let a prescription slip through if the requirement was extremely urgent, but at his risk. He could not legally dispense this category of drug in W.A. on a prescription from interstate.
So there you have it...
-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 11:28:51 AM
Thanks. I am still wonder how, if one has a legitimate script from a qualified Australian doctor, the script cannot be used in every State in Australia... but, that is how it is and we have to live with it I suppose.
Not only in Tassie, but W.A. also. My Grandson didn't know about other States but any opiate or medication on the Dangerous Drug list that can be abused is severely restricted, for obvious reasons... His suggestion is that if you are on a medication that comes under this classification, before you leave your home state, ask your Doctor for a Script under Regulation 24. This allows a Pharmacy to dispense all the repeats at one time, so if you have a script with say 5 repeats, you get 6 packs of medication at one time.
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Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..
I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken
Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
I know Neil&Raine say that a Victorian (or out of state) script for 'opiates/dangerous drugs' will be filled in QLD, that has not been my son's experience.
He is on Ritalin - a Victorian Script for Ritalin is not able to be filled anywhere except Victoria - even if the interstate Doctor contacts the Victorian prescribing doctor (in his case the psychiatrist).
[edit: and Ritalin cannot be organised on a Schedule 24 - it can only be for TWO repeats and can only be filled ONCE every 30 days]
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Wednesday 17th of February 2016 01:29:25 PM
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