Page 3780 - Week 10 - Thursday, 14 September 2017
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(2) How many of these inmates are (a) having their dose(s) dispensed by two registered nurses and (b) having their dose(s) dispensed by a pharmacist.
(3) Where exactly are the two registered nurses dispensing the methadone and are they being filmed on closed circuit television while doing this.
(4) What dosing system are the registered nurses using and how does this system compare with alternative systems.
(5) Are there any plans to move to another system in the future; if so, what are these plans.
(6) How much time is spent each day by the registered nurses dispensing these doses.
(7) Were the registered nurses (a) hired specifically to prepare and assist in the dosing of methadone or (b) existing staff within the AMC and have been given these responsibilities on top of their existing responsibilities.
(8) What training specific to opioid maintenance treatment have these nurses undertaken.
Mr Rattenbury: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1. As of 29 August 2017 there were 115 people on the methadone program at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC).
2. Of those detainees,
(a) all have their dose administered by two nurses, and
(b) the exact number of methadone doses pre-dispensed by the community pharmacy or dispensed by nurses at the AMC is variable due to the constant changes to the location of detainees within the AMC. Approximately 60% of the methadone doses are pre-dispensed by the pharmacist.
3. Nurses undertake methadone medication dosing rounds across the AMC, including the Hume Health Centre, Women’s accommodation, Sentenced Block, Remand Block, Accommodation Unit and Special Care Centre. All dosing areas within the AMC, with the exception of the Women’s area, are under camera observation.
4. There are currently two systems for administration of methadone at the AMC;
a. Pre-prepared doses of methadone supplied to Justice Health Services by an external pharmacy; and
b. Dispensing methadone from a manual pump.
These systems are comparable to other correctional facilities nationally.
5. idoseTM is a computerised method of daily dosing of methadone. This was implemented at the AMC on 30 August 2017.
6. There are two methadone medication rounds that occur concurrently every day. Each methadone round requires 2 nurses and takes between 4-5 hours to complete.
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