Clinical need for medicines

Chief Psychiatrist policy

This page includes information about the following Chief Psychiatrist policy.

This policy is mandatory for all authorised mental health services (AMHSs). An authorised doctor, authorised mental health practitioner, AMHS administrator, or other person performing a function or exercising a power under the Mental Health Act 2016 must comply with this policy.

You can also find additional fact sheets, forms, clinical notes and resources that are available for this policy under the relevant subtopics on this page.

Introduction

The Mental Health Act 2016 makes it an offence for a person to administer medicine to a patient receiving treatment in an AMHS unless the medicine is clinically necessary for the patient’s treatment and care for a medical condition.  This includes medicines used for sedation.

Authorised mental health services (AMHSs) are responsible for the quality use of medicines under the National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines, within the National Medicines Policy.  Learn more about the strategy and the National Medicines Policy on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Quality use of medicines involves:

• a considered selection of treatment options
• medicines, whether prescribed, recommended and/or self-selected should be used only when appropriate, with non-medicinal alternatives considered as needed
• appropriate choice of medicine when medicine is required
• safe and effective use of medicines.

AMHSs must also comply with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS standards).

These include medicine safety, with the intention of ensuring that competent clinicians safely prescribe and administer appropriate medicines to informed patients and carers.

Learn more about the NSQHS standards on the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare website.

Notifying the Chief Psychiatrist

The AMHS administrator or a clinical director must notify the Chief Psychiatrist as soon as practicable if they have any concerns regarding the non-therapeutic use of a medication on a patient.

The Chief Psychiatrist must also be notified immediately where the use of a medicine results in or appears to be associated with:

• the death of a patient during the use of the medication or within 24 hours of the use of the medication
• significant harm to a patient during the use of the medication or within 24 hours of the use of the medication.

These notifications are in addition to AMHSs responsibilities under the notification to Chief Psychiatrist of critical incidents and non-compliance with the Act policy.

The Chief Psychiatrist may audit the use of medications in AMHSs.  

For help and information about the policy, contact the Mental Health Act liaison service.

Acute sedation and using medicine to calm

Medicines can be used to calm a person where there is a risk to their, or another person’s, safety. These medicines can also make a person slow down and feel sleepy.

The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist has created information sheets with frequently asked questions for patients, parents and carers. You can use the information sheets to help discuss the use of medicine for sedation with your patients.

There are different considerations for people under 18.  Learn about considerations for children and minors.

Fact sheets, forms and resources

Choice and Medication information for consumers

Find fact sheets and information about psychotropic medications for people getting treatment or care from Queensland Health on the Choice and Medication website.

The website has a range of free resources including:

• fact sheets and leaflets about taking, changing or stopping mental health medicines
• patient information sheets
• guides on medicines and drugs in pregnancy.

View the Choice and Medication website