APMA was extremely pleased at last year’s budget (June 2010) announcement by the Queensland Government of $39.1 million over four years for operational funding for a persistent pain service network across Queensland. This funding will enable a ‘hub and spoke’ network which will dramatically improve access for complex cases and allow most persistent pain to be managed in the community via primary care providers in partnership with allied health and consumer health promotion organisations.

APMA strongly supports this commitment to the principles contained in the recently developed National Pain Strategy, and looks forward to being able to complement this initiative via our help-line service, community education, network of pain support groups  and other community-based self-management measures. We look forward to other State Governments following suit in the near future.  http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=70083

APMA representatives are members of a number of committees established at State and Health District level to design and implement the strategy, which have been working intensely since the announcement to deliver on the startegy.