Coroner calls for prison hep action Queensland – Prisons must overhaul their approach to hepatitis infections, Queensland’s coroner has recommended, following the death in custody of an Aboriginal teenager. Sheldon Currie, 18, was found semi-conscious on the floor of his cell at Brisbane’s Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre on 16 February 2010. He was transferred to the nearby Princess Alexandra Hospital but four days later died from acute liver failure caused by hep B and C infections. Delivering his findings on the death, coroner Michael Barnes found the prisoner had tested positive for the diseases in prison but medical staff had elected not to treat him with expensive antivirals because, as a remand prisoner, he would be less likely to complete the treatment. “I am concerned there appears to be no process in place to ensure prisoners who are found to be positive for hepatitis are systematically assessed for suitability for antiviral treatment,” he said. Mr Barnes said authorities should take “full advantage” of the stability provided by prison life to help address chronic health problems and addiction. • Abridged from theaustralian.com.au (4 Nov 2011) http://tinyurl.com/72nmzj9
news Push for Tassie jail needle-exchange Tasmania – Risdon Prison needs a needle exchange program to reduce hepatitis infections, a conference in Hobart has been told. University of Tasmania Research Fellow Barbara De Graaff told the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs Conference this month that prisoners were at risk of contracting hepatitis by sharing dirty needles. Ms De Graaff said a damning report into the prison, tabled by former federal police commissioner Mick Palmer, should be used as a catalyst to consider a needle exchange program. Acting chief executive of Statewide and Mental Health Services Nick Goddard said prison could represent an opportunity to intervene and provide treatment that would result in better health outcomes for individuals and the prison community as a whole. “Correctional Primary Health Services undertake a range of intensive primary care programs in the prison health system, and this includes a comprehensive disease screening process,” he said. “In fact, Tasmanian prisons have one of the best education, diagnosis and treatment programs for hepatitis C in Australia.” • Abridged from themercury.com.au (28 Nov 2011) http://tinyurl.com/7wurx2e
St Vincent’s viral hepatitis clinic Image courtesy of Google Images
St Vincent’s Hospital Viral Hepatitis Clinic, Darlinghurst, Sydney, offers treatment for hepatitis. Featuring a fibroscan machine, the clinic offers a multifaceted approach to your liver care and viral hep treatment. • For further information, please contact Rebecca Hickey: ph 8382 3825 or rhickey@stvincents.com. au or Fiona Peet: ph 8382 2925 or fpeet@stvincents. com.au
Hep Review
Edition 76
March 2012
11