Page 1577 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 April 2011
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is assessed as opioid dependent and not already on methadone, they are offered the program and, following informed consent, are inducted. This is not exerting “undue influence to commence methadone”—far from it. It is evidence-based treatment based on published guidelines.
While much has been made by the opposition on the key informants view in the report, the Burnet Institute report makes no findings or recommendations about this. Indeed, the recommendations around it are about supporting and improving access to the methadone program.
It is important to note that prisoners can come into the AMC in withdrawal. This is sometimes as a result of being in the watch-house and sometimes because they are already in withdrawal when they enter. Medical staff may provide symptomatic relief as part of the work-up period prior to induction onto the methadone program. Without prior knowledge of the drugs that the person may have taken, symptomatic relief is considered the most appropriate method of treatment based on a harm minimisation approach. This is not considered to be withholding methadone, rather treatment based on clinical symptoms.
Following assessment, prisoners are offered access to the methadone program where this is clinically appropriate. Once they have given informed consent, they are inducted onto the program. However, it is important to note that at all times detainees are able to choose whether they wish to participate in the program. Detainees are also able, in consultation with their doctor, to alter their methadone dose to an appropriate level.
Data from the inmate health survey provides a useful snapshot of the AMC population. We are talking about a group of people here where 91 per cent of respondents reported lifetime use of illicit drugs. Nearly three-quarters of respondents, or 74 per cent, reported that the crimes related to their current prison sentence were related to drugs, and 79 per cent reported that they were affected by drugs and/or alcohol when they committed their relevant offence. It is important to reflect on these statistics when we consider the health needs of the detainees at AMC. They are significant and they are complex.
The Burnet report is a significant review of what health services we provide for the detainees at AMC and provides some very in-depth analysis that I believe the government needs to thoroughly consider. Once the government has considered the recommendations in greater detail, I intend to bring to the Assembly a final government response to the Burnet report. In that final government response, I will not only address each recommendation individually, but I will provide an anticipated time frame for completion and prioritisation of the agreed recommendations. It is my intention to have this complete by 30 June 2011.
I would like to thank the Assembly for its interest in this matter and repeat that this government is committed to ensuring safe, high quality care is provided to all detainees whose complex health needs are managed at the Hume Health Centre. I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the final report.
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