Purple Pen Podcast

Jane chats with Dr Jenny Stephens, pain specialist and anaesthetist at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. Jane and Jenny discuss: The significance of Australia’s problem with prescription opioids How the risks of post-operative opioids may start before admission The problems, beyond dependance, caused by long term opioid use Risk factors for opioid dependance post-discharge How Australia compares to the rest of the world with regard to problems with prescription opioids The impact of a pharmacy-led intervention at St Vincent’s Sydney Empowering junior doctors to stand up for good opioid prescribing Simple interventions pharmacists can make to help Empowering patients and managing their expectations around analgesia