A review has been commissioned of addiction services in Dundalk after concerns were raised regarding clinical and non-clinical governance issues, the HSE has confirmed.
A three-team review panel has been established to look into concerns at the Dundalk Addiction Service and examine current governance arrangements.
According to the Irish Medical News, the service review currently underway was commissioned by the HSE Area Manager for the Louth/Meath Integrated Service Area (ISA) and concerns opiod related issues.
A spokesperson for HSE Dublin North East told the paper that the reviewers are Dr Cathal Cassidy, consultant psychiatrist; Dr Margaret Bourke, ICGP Addiction Services, and Ms Ann Coyle, HSE General Manager, Louth/Meath ISA.
Currently, there is just one Level 2 GP prescriber in Dundalk who initiates methadone treatment for opioid/heroin addiction and three Level 1 GPs, the HSE said.
“One of the Level 1 prescribers works very closely with the Level 2 GP and sits in on case management meetings. This Level 1 prescriber is on track to become a Level 2 prescriber in their own right, with a view to helping clients attain greater stability which will enable them to transfer to the other Level 1 GP in the community,” the HSE spokesperson told IMN.
“There are no HSE employed medics involved in the opiate substitution treatment programme in the north east region. All our treatment programmes are based in the community with contracted GPs.”
Anecdotally, there have been reports of problems with access to addiction services in the North East and other regions outside Dublin, as the number of people suffering from opioid addiction appears to have increased.
According to the HSE, the protocol for the opiate substitution treatment programmes in the North East is the 2008 guidelines “Working with Opiate Users in Community Based Primary Care”.
“The 2008 guidelines are widely available, and cover all aspects of the treatment process in primary care settings from assessment and treatment initiation, through to stabilisation and managed detox,” the spokesperson stated.
Meanwhile, the Dundalk Drugs Action group has called for the introduction of a Naloxone programme to combat the high levels of overdoses among drug users in the North East.
Figures released recently from a study that was undertaken from 2011 to 2012 show that the North East had the highest rate of overdose deaths in the country.
According to the Regional Drugs Task Force, training began in Dublin last month which strengthen the case to have Naloxone distributed to clients.
The chairperson of the Dundalk Drugs Action Group, Cllr Mark Dearey, told LMFM that the Naloxone shot, which is rolled out in other countries, could save many lives.
Source: Irish Medical News
