Page 1783 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 30 April 1991
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MINISTER FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND THE ARTS
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
- QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE
Hospitals - Waiting Lists
MR BERRY - asked the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts without notice on 21 November 1990:
(1) Is the Minister aware that a patient on the waiting list for neurosurgery on his back was put on the methadone program for pain relief while waiting for a bed in the ACT Hospital System?
(2) Does the Minister support the use of addictive drugs to keep patients out of pain while they wait up to twelve months for surgery?
MR HUMPHRIES - the answer to Mr Berrys question is:
(1) I am unable to substantiate, without specific details about the case, that a patient on the booking list for neurosurgery on his back was placed on the methadone program for pain relief while waiting for a bed in the ACT Hospital System.
It is not the policy of the Alcohol and Drug Service methadone program at Royal Canberra Hospital South to utilise the program for the treatment of pain relief. This Service provides support for the rehabilitation of abusers of addictive drugs.
(2) The use of addictive drugs for pain relief is subject to close professional supervision. Any specialist or medical practitioner who wishes to place a patient on a course of addictive drugs for pain relief for longer than three months would need to apply to the Medical Officer for Health for approval. The application may then be submitted to the Drugs Advisory Committee for confirmation before the doctor can continue a course of treatment.
In addition, I am advised that patients are rarely on the booking lists for longer than twelve months. If a patient has been booked for this period of time they are either medically unfit or surgery has been delayed at the patients request.
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