Background: Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) is an additional end-of-life (EOL) option available to those meeting strict eligibility criteria. In Queensland, information about VAD can only be provided in combination with communication about all other EOL choices, including palliative care. Palliative care providers may choose to be involved in their patient’s VAD journey, which includes facilitating VAD substance supply. According to Queensland legislation, only pharmacists employed by the statewide pharmacy service (located in South East Queensland, SEQ) can supply VAD substances and are required to do so in an equitable manner across the state. 
  
  

Aim: To investigate if a patient’s location impacts delivery of the VAD substance by a centralised pharmacy service. 

 

Method: Substance delivery data collected by a centralised pharmacy service in Queensland between 1/01/23-15/03/23 was analysed to investigate the impact of location on VAD substance delivery timeframes. The time taken to provide VAD substances was determined by comparing patients’ preferred versus actual supply date. The patients’ location in relation to the SEQ region was then analysed in conjunction with delivery times. 

 

Results: The pharmacy service was able to deliver the substance to patients (n=111) within four days of their preferred supply date regardless of their geographical location. Most patients (98.2%) received the substance within two days of preferred supply date. Furthermore, the difference in delivery times between SEQ (n=65) and son-SEQ (n=46) was not statistically significant (p=0.1464), with delivery occurring on the requestor’s preferred date of supply in 78.5% (51) and 69.6% (32) of instances respectively.

 

Discussion: The findings suggest that patients living in rural and remote locations are not disadvantaged by a centralised VAD pharmacy service, allowing palliative care providers to facilitate timely access to VAD care for their patients. This contributes to services being able to provide equitable, dignified EOL care to patients wishing to access VAD.