Griffith Base Hospital and St Vincent's combine to improve pain relief techniques

There is growing evidence overusing opioid-based medicines are having a negative effect on people who undergo surgery.

It means some patients aren't recovering as quickly and are risking complications or infections after taking opioid-based medicines and going into surgery.

It's meant that medical experts have had to find alternative ways to manage pain for some patients.

Anesthetist and pain specialist Jennifer Stevens and Griffith Base Hospital's executive clinical director Damien Limberger have developed a program to assist elderly patients who have fractured a hip.

The program is about getting the "best possible pain management" for elderly patients who are waiting for surgery, or who have to travel for treatment.

Dr Stevens, who works at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, said risks during surgery increased for any patient who used opioids before heading into the operating theatre.

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"A lot of the time GPs will put patients on opiods while they're waiting for surgery," Dr Stevens said.

"We know that opioids aren't as effective or have even less effect than we thought on things like arthritis and long-term back pain."

Opioid-based painkillers include Oxycontin, fentanyl, targin, endone and tramdol.

Dr Limberger, who is also Griffith Base Hospital's director of postgraduate training, said the education program was aimed at paramedics, doctors, nurses and even nursing home staff.

He said long-term use of opioids often led to greater and greater doses needed for pain relief which could spiral out of control.

"For people who have broken their hip, it's about getting them to treatment with appropriate pain relief," Dr Limberger said.

Dr Stevens said the best alternative was to avoid taking opioids and exercising instead.

"Losing weight and building up your muscles to prepare for surgery improves the outcomes," she said.

"If you're waiting for surgery, whether it's for joint surgery or cancer surgery, you will get a better result, have less risk of infection and better function from joint replacements if you prepare, stay active and maintain fitness."

The collaboration between Griffith Base Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital has also extended to an Alcohol and Drug Telehealth Service.

The service, which is being trialed for nine months, provides access to specialist clinics using video conference technology, as well as having support of local clinicians.

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