Page 738 - Week 02 - Thursday, 16 February 2017
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(2) Prescription of methadone for pain is a clinically recognised treatment, but without conducting a review of all clinical files at the AMC we are not in a position to definitively answer this question.
Refer to my response to Question 1 regarding the number of detainees that were on the methadone program on 14 December 2016.
(3) ACT Health is supportive of continuous quality improvement activities. There have been previous reviews that considered the provision of methadone at the AMC. In 2011 the Burnett Institute, and in 2015 the Auditor General analysed the data on the percentage of detainees on methadone and found the percentage of detainees on methadone had been broadly consistent from January 2011 until September 2014.
In 2013, Justice Health Services undertook a Medication Management Redesign Project. There were three recommendations that arose from that Project relating to methadone management. All three recommendations have been actioned and are now standard practice.
The recommendations relating to Methadone delivery:
• Two registered nurses to conduct medication rounds providing each other support and consultation.
• All clients to present with identification to receive medication – three identifiers – name, date of birth and photo.
• Adopt consistent use of alcohol and drug withdrawal tools during medication rounds to identify at risk clients readily and ability to monitor and provide treatment effectively during withdrawal period.
Following the Independent Inquiry into the Treatment in Custody of Mr Steven Freeman, as part of the continual quality improvement cycle, Justice Health Services has commenced a quality improvement activity to review the procedures for prescribing and monitoring methadone use in the Alexander Maconochie Centre to identify whether there are further improvements that can be made.
ACT Health is undertaking site visits to prisons in other jurisdictions to look at methadone processes which will inform further improvements and changes to our own system.
Alexander Maconochie Centre—security
Mr Rattenbury (in reply to a question and a supplementary question by Mrs Jones on Wednesday, 14 December 2016):
On 2 September 2016, two detainees escaped from the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). ACT Policing was notified and attended the AMC. Both detainees were returned to custody over the course of a week.
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