NEW DSP IMPAIRMENT TABLES ASSIST PEOPLE WITH PERSISTENT PAIN

The ability of people living with persistent (chronic pain) to access income support via a Disability Support Pension has been improved as a result of new Impairment Tables which came in to operation on 1 January 2012. This is of critical importance for people whose pain causes severe impairment preventing them working at least 15 hours per week. Read more

Pain mis-treatment in prison leads to death

The suicide death of a 37 year old Aboriginal woman Tracey Inglis in a Queensland prison following a lengthy denial of access to pain medication has prompted the Queensland Coroner to conclude urgent changes are needed in prison medical and pain services. ABC Radio’s AM program reported recently that Ms Inglis, who had suffered chronic pain for several years following a car accident (as well as tooth abscess and depression), was denied appropriate pain medication and resorted to pressing against the cold cell block wall in an attempt to numb the pain. Read more

NEW PAIN BOOKS AVAILABLE

As part of our objective to provide affordable access to evidence-based persistent pain information and advice, the following new titles are now available for purchase from the APMA shop.

The latest, October 2011 edition of ‘Manage Your Pain’ by Dr Michael Nicholas, Dr Allan Molloy, Lois Tonkin & Lee Beeston is available. Also added to the titles available is ‘Living a healthy life with chronic conditions’ (3rd edition) by Kate Lorig, Halstead Holman, David Sobel, Diana Laurent, Virginia Gonzalez & Marion Minor – the book written as a manual for the tens of thousands of people each year who attend one of the Stanford University accredited chronic disease self-management courses.
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Pain – a tale of two countries…

The following article is a (slightly abridged) reprint of a report by Dr Tim Semple, the President of the Australian Pain Society (APS), in the latest (December) issue of the APS Newsletter, reprinted with the author’s permission. It provides a clear demonstration of the potential for government to make a real difference to the problem of pain in society – if it accepts responsibility. Read more

WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR IMPROVED PAIN TREATMENT

At a recent General Assembly meeting in Uruguay, the World Medical Association (WMA) identified the need for improved pain treatment. The WMA put forward a series of proposals to improve patients’ access to adequate pain treatment. It said that in most cases, pain could be stopped or relieved with inexpensive and relatively simple treatment which could dramatically improve quality of life. Read more

WORKING FOR PATIENT-centred care

The International Alliance of Patient Organisations (IAPO) is a global alliance representing patients of all nationalities across all disease areas and promoting patient-centred healthcare worldwide.  Its members are patients' organizations - such as APMA - working at the local, national, regional and international levels to represent and support patients, their families and carers. IAPO has over 200 members which span over 50 countries and 50 disease areas and through its membership represents an estimated 365 million patients worldwide. IAPO is officially linked with the World Health Organisation. Read more

A guide to legal issues which may affect people with persistent pain

People living with persistent (chronic) pain – or indeed almost any chronic medical condition -  are faced with an enormous range of challenges and issues which they will often be required to negotiate at some stage of their life. Many involve complex legal matters. These can include financial matters – including accessing insurance, superannuation or Centrelink benefits; workplace rights; discrimination legislation; health privacy; making a will and powers of attorney. Read more

Painaustralia SGM

Painaustralia Limited is the national not-for-profit body which aims to improve the quality of life for people with pain and their families and to minimise the burden of pain on individuals and the community by working with consumers, healthcare professionals and State and Federal Governments to implement the recommendations of the National Pain Strategy (NPS). APMA is a foundation member of Painaustralia, and APMA Secretary Elizabeth Carrigan is one of two consumer representatives on the Board of Directors, along with Diana Aspinall from NSW.

Painaustralia held its first (Extraordinary) General Meeting on Thursday 20 October 2011.  The NSW Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research, The Hon Jillian Skinner, MP, was the Guest of Honour and addressed the meeting, as did speakers representing Queensland Health and WA Health.   Click here to read the media release issued about the meeting.

Self-Management Expert Advisory Panel begins operations

In an important advance for persistent pain and the self-management of chronic diseases in Queensland, a Self-Management Expert Advisory Panel has been established by the Queensland Self-Management Alliance (QSMA) and begun operations. APMA President Wendy Caldwell, a member of the panel, said the decision to involve APMA as the voice of people living with pain sent an important message to Government and Queensland Health. Read more