New Mackay Pain Support Group

A new APMA pain support group will be officially launched in Mackay, north Queensland, on March 9. Local consultant pharmacist and APMA member Joyce McSwan has too often seen people who live with intolerable pain not being able to have their pain totally relieved by medicine or surgery. As Joyce told the city’s newspaper “The problem is that often people become isolated and do not realise that there are many others living in the same community who also live with pain every day.” Read more

INCREASED ASSISTANCE TO ACCESS SPECIALIST PAIN SERVICES IN NSW

The NSW Minister for Health, the Hon Jillian Skinner recently announced increased funding for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS). From January 1 2012, increased financial assistance to patients who need to travel long distances to access specialist medical treatment is available, and an increased number of people are able to access the scheme. IPTAAS is a subsidy scheme, introduced in 2006, to improve access to non-emergency health-related transport. It recognises that health disadvantage can be worsened by difficulties in travelling to and from health care by cost, distance or isolation problems. Read more

2012 AGM to be Held

APMA’s 2012 Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 27 March 2012 starting at 6.00pm in the Boardroom (Executive Offices) of the St Vincent’s Hospital, Level 1, 411 Main Street, Kangaroo Point. All members are invited and encouraged to attend. Free parking is available after 5.00 pm at the St. Vincent’s Hospital carpark.Read more

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

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

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

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