Cash injection to treat drug patients

AN extra $500,000 is set to help Dandenong Hospital’s emergency department respond to drug and alcohol-affected patients.
Health Minister Mary Wooldridge and South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich announced on Tuesday that it would be among 21 across the state to receive the four-year funding.
“This initiative will help Greater Dandenong residents get appropriate treatment and support for their alcohol and drug problems, as well as make the emergency department a safer place for patients and staff,” Ms Peulich said.
The cash will employ specialist staff and was allocated to emergency departments with high volumes of alcohol and drug-related presentations.
“Through this initiative, we are providing Dandenong’s emergency department staff with better support for the identification, management and treatment of people who are intoxicated or drug-affected,” Ms Wooldridge said.
Drug and alcohol-affected patients present serious challenges to emergency departments, in particular those under the influence of new and emerging drugs such as ‘ice’, which is associated with an increased risk of violent and complex behaviours.
Ms Wooldridge said these patients required intensive resources and placed considerable pressure on hospitals.
The initiative aims to decrease the number of people with drug and alcohol issues being re-admitted to emergency departments and to better use referral pathways.
Monash Health emergency medicine professor George Braitberg said alcohol was the most frequent substance taken in self-harm related attendances.
“In addition, alcohol is implicated in violence-related presentations and is often associated with significant social and psychological problems,” he said.
“The health effect on patients abusing alcohol and other substances, on a more chronic basis, is an important factor in multiple representations to emergency departments.
“Funding that will address the care and safety of these patients is both timely and necessary.”
BREAKOUT
DURING her visit to Greater Dandenong, Ms Wooldridge also opened 10 new mental health beds for young people from Dandenong and surrounding suburbs.
The Dandenong Youth Prevention and Recovery Care Service (Y-PARC) in David Street, Dandenong, responds to the health and mental health needs of 16 to 25-year-olds, 24 hours a day.
“This service has a vital role in caring for young people and providing intensive help earlier,” Ms Wooldridge said.
“It is particularly aimed at young people who need residential support as an alternative to inpatient care, or to help them transition from hospital back into the community.”
The State Government allocated $4.7 million to establish the service and $7.2 million for running costs over the next four years.