Meet the WCH CF Pharmacy Team

For children and young people living with cystic fibrosis, medicines can be a significant part of everyday life.

At the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the CF Pharmacy Team works closely with children, young people and families as part of the wider multidisciplinary CF team, helping ensure medicines are safe, effective, available and as manageable as possible.

Pictured left to right: Steph, Linh N, Michael, Ann, Carol, Vithiya, Jenny and Linh C.

Supporting families with everyday CF medicines

Pharmacists help families understand what each medicine is being used for, how and when to take it, and any potential side effects or interactions.

This includes prescribed medicines, as well as over-the-counter medicines and supplements, and in some cases potential interactions with foods.

The team also supports families when treatments change, helps explain what to expect when new therapies are introduced, and works to ensure medicines remain appropriate as children grow and their needs change.

They can also help families keep track of medicine supply and prescriptions, including reminders when new prescriptions may be needed.

Making medicines easier to access

The team can help families understand which medicines are only available through the WCH Pharmacy and which can be obtained from their local pharmacy, with or without a prescription.

The WCH Medication Ordering Service also helps families by allowing medications to be ordered in advance and prepared for collection when needed.

Learn more about the WCH Medication Ordering Service:
Medication Ordering Service Fact Sheet

Part of the wider CF care team

Carol and the wider pharmacy team work closely with CF doctors, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists and other members of the care team to identify and prevent medication-related problems and help tailor treatment to each child’s individual needs.

Carol now attends the CF clinic on Monday mornings and is also part of the annual review clinic team, as well as supporting families during inpatient admissions.

More than supplying medicines

One thing the team wishes families and the wider community understood is that a pharmacist’s role in CF care is about much more than supplying medicines.

Pharmacists are an integral part of the clinical team, helping families get the most benefit from increasingly complex treatments while keeping medication use as safe, practical and manageable as possible.

A message to children, young people and families

The team knows that managing CF can mean taking a lot of medicines, and that this can be complex and change over time.

Their message to families is simple:

“We are here to help make that journey a little easier. No question is too small — please ask us whenever you need support.”

🌹 A big thank you to the WCH CF Pharmacy Team for the expertise, care and practical support they provide to children, young people and families across our CF community.