581 First assessments and 492 Consulting assessments were conducted. 433 permits were issued (373 self-administration; 60 practitioner-administration). 349 substances for self-administration were dispensed. Of the 349 patients who were dispensed VAD substance for self-administration, 231 (66%) administered the medication. 38 patients required practitioner administration.
Death through VAD comprised 0.58% of the total deaths in Victoria over the same time period – this compares to 0.49% from the previous year.
Despite 618 doctors completing VAD training, only 185 (30%) have been involved in a case, and of the 326 doctors eligible, only 48 have joined the statewide community of practice – a peer support network for doctors involved in VAD provision.
The proportion of registered specialists who have completed VAD training is as follows: Medical Oncologists 47 of 297 (16%), General Practitioners 182 of 8,522 (2%), Neurologists 15 of 253 (6%), Respiratory Physicians 9 of 226 (4%), General Medical Physicians 17 of 591 (3%), Haematologists 7 of 220 (3%), Palliative Medicine Specialists 5 of 105 (5%) There is 1 neurologist located in a rural area trained to provide VAD assessments, and no respiratory physicians in rural areas.
81.2% of applicants were involved in palliative care at the time of applying, for a median duration of three months. 81.58% of all VAD applicants to-date have a malignant qualifying diagnosis, with lung cancer representing the largest tumour subtype (20.5%).