The Commission’s review spanned the Department of Health, Child and Adolescent Health Service, North Metropolitan Health Service, South Metropolitan Health Service, East Metropolitan Health Service, and WA Country Health Service.
Commission officers attended nine regional and metropolitan hospitals to engage directly with operational staff, and saw the practices associated with access to and management of controlled drugs in those facilities.
The Commission's review found that 17 of the Commission's 19 recommendations are currently adequately addressed. Two of the recommendations depend on implementation of a major policy review by WA Health.
While it is evident to the Commission that significant variations in drug management processes and practices exist across WA Health and within individual Health Service Providers, all agencies appear driven by a common commitment to better manage the risks associated with controlled drugs.
In a year, the Commission will conduct a further review of the two remaining recommendations and assess the overall impact of the Department of Health's new consolidated medicines handling policy.
Download the media release
Media release - Commission reviews WA Health reforms in handling dangerous drugs