GPs’ new pain guide

NEW prescribing guidelines by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners will reduce opioid medicationrelated deaths.

RACGP president Dr Bastian Seidel said pain management had significant benefits for patients but painkilling medications must be prescribed and used responsibly.

He said the new guidelines – unveiled at the medical body’s scientific conference in Sydney yesterday – would help GPs feel more comfortable and better supported when managing patients suffering from chronic pain.