SafeScript NSW is computer software that allows prescribers (general practitioners, other medical specialists and nurse practitioners) and pharmacists to access real-time information about your prescription history for certain high-risk medicines, known as monitored medicines, such psychostimulants, opioids and benzodiazepines. This information helps your prescriber or pharmacist make safer clinical decisions about your care.
Prescribers will have access to patient health information to fulfil their legal requirements when prescribing or dispensing high risk medicines. They may also use the information for the purpose of obtaining approvals to prescribe monitored medicines. It is important for your prescriber and pharmacist to know what monitored medicines you are taking because some medicines taken in high doses, or when taken with other medicines, have the potential to be harmful.
The increasing harm from unsafe use of monitored medicines is a major public health concern. In 2021, there were 2,231 drug-induced deaths in Australia with 1,675 (75%) being unintentional. Of these deaths, 765 (34%) were due to opioids and 544 (24%) involved benzodiazepines. To learn more about these statistics, view the Penington Institute's Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2023.
SafeScript NSW is part of NSW Health's commitment to reduce harm from monitored medicines and help save lives.
Your prescriber and pharmacist will use SafeScript NSW to see real-time information about your prescription history only for certain high-risk medicines. This information enables them to make safer clinical decisions about your care and helps them to identify circumstances where you may be at risk of harm.
These circumstances include where you:
SafeScript NSW does not instruct your health practitioner what to do or whether a medicine should or should not be prescribed or dispensed to you. The decision about whether to prescribe or dispense medicines to you remains with your prescriber and pharmacist as they are best placed to determine whether the medicines prescribed to you remain the safest and best option based on your needs and individual circumstances.
If you have been receiving the same medicines, or unsafe combinations, from more than one prescriber without each prescriber knowing, you could be at risk of harm. With access to the SafeScript NSW information, your prescriber may talk to you about changes for your safety, which might include better coordination of care, safely adjusting your medicine doses or recommending alternative approaches to managing issues such as pain, anxiety or sleep difficulties (e.g. insomnia).
Your prescriber or pharmacist will have access to a telephone advisory service for additional support and advice from health practitioners specialising in pain management, anxiety and other mental health conditions and substance use problems. This service can assist your prescriber and pharmacist in ensuring that you continue to receive the safest and most appropriate ongoing care for your medical needs.
This brochure provides information about SafeScript NSW, including what medicines are monitored and how SafeScript NSW works.
SafeScript NSW brochure for consumers
Information on real-time prescription monitoring can be found at Real-time prescription monitoring: Poster
NSW Health has partnered with Painaustralia to help raise awareness about SafeScript NSW.
Watch the webinar to learn more about SafeScript NSW, why it’s being introduced and what it means for consumers who use monitored medicines.The webinar was hosted by Carol Bennett, Painaustralia CEO and included panelists:
If you feel like you have been impacted by SafeScript NSW and want support, contact or visit:
