By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE CLOSURE of a dedicated mental health program with experienced nurse clinicians will severely impact 280 patients around the region, one has warned.
Newtown’s Rod Lambeth said Barwon Health’s clozapine program had six trained mental health nurses offering dedicated support to patients.
The loss of the support would significantly impact many patients with issues like social isolation while increasing their out-of-pocket costs, he said.
A Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) report said use of clozapine required “intense monitoring”.
The report said the drug could have side effects including liver problems, cardiac abnormalities, seizures and neutropenia and, a white blood cell deficiency impairing immune function.
Psychiatrists were concerned costs for patients on the program “would not support good clinical care”, the report said.
Estimated out-of-pocket pathology costs for a patient without a concession card were $917 annually, without including the cost of the medication or additional visits to a GP or psychiatrist.
Mr Lambeth said the tablets previously came in multiple sizes on one prescription but now he was charged a prescription for each size.
“I’m told I now have to see my GP for support but my GP admits he’s not a mental health expert.
“People can deteriorate in a short period of time and end up back in the Swanston Centre and it will cost a lot of more money then. A lot of damage can be done in the meantime.”
Mr Lambeth said the region would lose a wealth of mental health experience with the program’s closure.
A Barwon Health spokesperson said the Commonwealth had changed how clozapine was supplied to the community.
“These changes have a direct impact on how patients using this drug are supported in the future. To support GPs we have appointed a coordinator to assist in ensuring high quality care for consumers who use clozapine as they transition to their local GP.”
But a spokesperson for federal Health Minister Sussan Ley denied any public hospital funding cuts to Victoria.
“Australian Government public hospital funding to Victoria will increase substantially over the next four years, growing from $3.8 billion in 2014/2015 to $4.7 billion in 2018-19. This represents an increase in annual funding of 22 per cent, or $860 million.“
The spokesperson said the changes in dispensing clozapine gave a stronger role to community pharmacies without impacting initial hospital treatment.
