Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 1134 ..

(c) These procedures have to date been deemed to be adequate. As a result of the incident referred to, the Canberra Hospital engaged Dr Peter Doherty, Director of Psychiatry, The Northern Hospital, and Director of Clinical Services of the Northern and East Area Mental Health Services of Melbourne.

Dr. Doherty has also been a prominent member of the College of Psychiatrist Quality Assurance Committee, and convenor of the College's Clinical Indicators Working Party.

As part of the investigations into the incident referred to, Dr Doherty has made a number of recommendations as to how the policies and procedures at the Hospital which can be re-developed to bring them in line with what is considered "Best Practice"

(5) Training about the indications, contra-indications and administering of Electro Convulsive Therapy is a standard component in the training of all Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Registrars.

(6) Once trained, it is routine for psychiatric registrars to give this form of treatment without a consultant present. Each application is endorsed by the treating consultant.

(7) As previously mentioned, the review conducted by Dr. Doherty covered all aspects of E.C.T. practice at the Canberra Hospital.

Dr. Doherty has recommended that as a result of a new "state of the art", E.C.T. machine being introduced earlier this year, that training in the use of this machine be made available to Medical and Nursing staff of both the Mental Health Services, the Department of Anaesthetics and the theatre staff at the Canberra Hospital.

I am pleased to advise that Dr. William Lyndon, Co-ordinator of the E.C.T. Training program for Northside Clinic in Sydney, and Lecturer of Psychological Medicine at Sydney University will conduct a two day training program on 1st and 2nd of August, 1998

(The Psychiatric Registrars administering E.C.T. on the day of the incident had previously received considerable training in the use of the E.C.T. machines in use at the Hospitals in which they worked).

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .