Opioid Treatment Program Forms
To prescribe under the NSW Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), key forms are required to provide patient entry into treatment, exit from treatment, and to notify changes in dosing points.
Applications for approval to prescribe or supply Schedule 8 medicines under the NSW OTP can now be submitted and managed via SafeScript NSW.
SafeScript NSW can also be used to exit a person from OTP and transfer a patient to another dosing point within NSW.
Applications for approval to prescribe or supply methadone, buprenorphine, or other opioid agonist therapy (OAT) treatment under the NSW OTP may also be made by completing the following relevant form:
This application form is used by prescribers to apply for approval to enrol a patient in the NSW Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). Approval from the Ministry of Health is required before prescribing methadone or buprenorphine to commence treatment.
This form must also be completed when changing a patient’s pharmacotherapy between methadone and buprenorphine preparations, or vice versa.
Patients must be formally exited from treatment by completing and submitting this form for each patient discharged from treatment.
This form should also be used for a patient that is transferred from the care of one prescriber to another. Unit this form is submitted, the new prescriber will be unable to commence treatment for the patient.
Interstate prescribers who wish to temporarily transfer a patient to the NSW OTP are required to complete and submit this form to the Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Services Unit.
If an NSW OTP patient is permanently changing their dosing point, this form should be used to notify the Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Services Unit.
If the patient is travelling outside of NSW, specific guidance is given by the Ministry of health for interstate transfers or overseas travel for how to clinically manage such circumstances.
*Terminology has been updated from ‘authorities’ to ‘approvals’ to distinguish it from Commonwealth PBS authorities. In SafeScript NSW, an approval is a reference to an authority issued under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966.
Clinical Guidelines
NSW Clinical Guidelines: Treatment of Opioid Dependence
The NSW Clinical Guidelines: Treatment of Opioid Dependence by the NSW Ministry of Health provides clinical guidance and policy direction for opioid treatment in NSW. They align with national directions and recommendations and incorporate the latest clinical evidence to support health professionals caring for patients receiving treatment for opioid dependence.
To access a copy of this publication, visit the NSW Ministry of Health website, where a complete PDF version and an abbreviated PDF version are available. Hardcopies are no longer available.
Clinical Guidelines: Long-acting Injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) for opioid dependence treatment
An updated guideline for the treatment of opioid dependence using long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) formulation is now available. This guideline provides a comprehensive framework to support clinical decision-making for clinicians and consumers across various service settings involved in delivering LAIB treatment.
A brief version and full version of the guidelines are available for download now. You can also get additional information, including up-to-date information on prescriber restrictions, by visiting the new NSW Health long-acting injectable buprenorphine website.
The guidelines should be read in conjunction with the NSW Clinical Guidelines: Treatment of Opioid Dependence.
Austroads Assessing Fitness to Drive
Assessing Fitness to Drive is a joint publication of Austroads and the National Transport Commission (NTC) designed principally to guide and support assessments made by health professionals regarding fitness to drive for licensing purposes.
These guidelines provide guidance to health professionals when treating any patient who holds a driver licence whose condition may impact on their ability to drive safely or undertaking an examination at the request of a driver licensing authority or industry accreditation body.
To access a copy of this publication, visit the Austroads website for a PDF version or online version.
Flowchart: Managing Driving Safety for At Risk Clients
NSW Health have developed a driving safety flowchart to assist with managing at-risk clients who present intoxicated at a clinic or service. This resource is intended to be tailored for local requirements and used at emergency departments, clinics and community pharmacy supervised dose administration points.
To access a copy, please visit the NSW Health website for the example template.
For more information on driving safety related to opioid pharmacotherapies, complete the Driving Safety education module on OTEP learning platform.
Alcohol and Other Drugs Care Charter
The Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Care Charter guides all staff to deliver care that is safe, accessible, equitable and non-judgemental. The AOD Care Charter aims to improve the experiences and health outcomes of people who use or have used alcohol and other drugs.
The AOD Care Charter calls on all staff to reflect on their work practice and provides a framework for services to assess their culture, policies, processes and physical and social environments. All health services in NSW should deliver care in line with the AOD Care Charter.
To access a copy, please visit the NSW Health website or download here a PDF version