The Southern Highlands Division works with the National Prescribing Service (NPS) to bring the most recent, evidence based information to GPs about prescribing. Twice yearly, one-to-one visits in the surgery are offered by Gail Forlonge who is a trained NPS facilitator. Gail spends between 20 and 30 minutes with GPs discussing selected therapeutic topics and the latest developments with an unbiased approach based on best available evidence gathered by the highly qualified team at NPS. At the visit, GPs are given a detailing card with all the main information and references on the topic. These visits attract PIP incentives and 2 CPD points. The great majority of Highlands GPs receive two NPS visits per year on therapeutic topics. To arrange to receive these visits please contact Gail Forlonge .

NPS provides prescribing support to GPs directly through RADAR (Rational Assessment of Drugs and Research). NPS also invites GPs to participate in regular clinical audits and case studies.

Useful NPS Links

Balancing Benefits and Harms of Antipsychotic Therapy Resources:

Antipsychotic Side-Effect Checklist for patients- from Harvard Medical School for patients to complete prior to consultation

First and Second Line Options for Antipsychotics  - from University of Queensland

Brochure for Patients on Antipsychotics  -  from SSWAHS

NPS Antipsychotic Monitoring Tool - from NPS

Comparative Information for Common Oral Antipsychotics - from NPS

GP Psych Support phone 1800 200 588 - for more information click here

Lifestyle support in mental illness:

• Activate: mind & body - help with nutrition, exercsie, smoking, alcohol, regular GP care
• Mind + Body initiative - books, DVDs, pamphlets, kits etc for people affected by mental illness who want to live a healthier lifestyle

Other NPS links

NPS - What's New?

More information on NPS RADAR

More information on NPS current Clinical Audits (paper based)

More information on NPS Clinical Audits (on-line)

More information on NPS case studies

NPS also promotes the provision of education to Practice Nurses and pharmacists utilising clinical audits, case studies and small group presentations or one-to-one visits if required. In addition NPS focuses on consumer education and support with campaigns, provision of the Medicines Line, regular editions of Medicines Talk and a wealth of information available from NPS.

Subscribe to NPS for nurses and midwives

Valuable information on NPS for consumers

Medicines Line Information for Patients

Patietns can get information about their medicines over the phone. NPS works with healthdirect Australia to provide consumers with information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines. Call 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424). For more information visit http://www.nps.org.au/.

Home Medicines Review (Item 900)

November 2011 - GPs can now refer directly to accredited pharmacists for Home Medicine Reveiw (HMR) at no cost to the patient. Pharmacist Kate Luckie is available to provide this service - for details please click here.

The Pharmacy Guild provides a facilitator to assist GPs and pharmacists to utilise the Home Medicines Review (HMR) item number. The facilitator for the Southern Highlands is Mr Gary Brown who can be contacted on: 0401 385 785

For more information on HMR go to www.guild.org.au/mmr/