AQW 3435/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 22/09/2022
Answered On Date: 03/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what budget he has allocated during the current financial year to enable GPs to tackle Opioid Use Disorder in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Answer:

The SPPG recognises that Opioid Dependency is a growing concern across the region as well as in the Belfast area. Some aspects of the totality of care for patients with opioid dependency are provided by GPs as 'core GMS'. However, the SPPG have also designed and commissioned a bespoke NI Local Enhanced Service to bolster care and understanding of patients dealing with these issues.

The Substitute Prescribing NILES aims to provide a local, evidence based substitute prescribing service to all patients assessed as being in need of treatment for addiction as part of an overall package of treatment. The service was also designed to reduce the use of illicit drugs and the social, legal and medical problems associated with it including drug related deaths and overdose alongside providing information and advice to patients and nominated family members on methods of reducing harm and managing overdose.

The funding for this NILES is allocated regionally, not by each Trust area. The total funding for this service across the region in 2022/23 is £100k.

In 21/22 the Belfast GP Practice spend for the service was £17,598.