From 1 November 2022 all prescriptions for Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 medicines that are issued and dispensed in NSW must show the patient’s date of birth (DOB), as well as the patient’s name and address.

Where a patient’s DOB does not appear on a prescription, a pharmacist may still dispense the prescription, but must obtain the patient’s DOB from the patient or their agent and record this within the dispensing system.

Vendors of clinical practice software have been informed to enable the necessary system functionality to be implemented.  

For further information relating to this change, please visit the NSW Health website.  A fact sheet for prescribers is also available.