Agenda item - Update on the provision of substance misuse services

41.1    This item was introduced by Kathy Caley, Lead Commissioner for Alcohol & Substance Misuse.

41.2    Cllr Penn welcomed the positive trend in performance over recent months, and asked what the trend was for the number of clients being treated. Kathy Caley responded that numbers had dipped when the new contract was introduced, but were now almost back to the old contract levels. This needs to be understood in the national context of a decrease in people seeking these services.

41.3    In response to a question from Cllr Penn on the numbers of people repeatedly seeking services, Ms Caley told members that performance was good here, with the number of re-presentations falling.

41.4    In answer to a query from Cllr Penn on the numbers of people rejected for treatment, Ms Caley told the Board that no one would be denied treatment, although sometimes a detoxification programme might be delayed until a client was best able to benefit from it. The contract has performance indicators for access and waiting times.

41.5    Pinaki Ghoshal asked a question about the numbers of children in care accessing substance misuse services, and agreed to receive an update outside the meeting.

41.6    Cllr Brown asked how the 60% successful completion rate for residential rehabilitation services compared with the 80% success rate for inpatient detoxification at the City Road, Islington facility. Ms Caley explained that the figures are not directly comparable, as they measure success against very different timescales. However, the 60% success rate for residential rehabilitation compares well with that reported in other areas.

41.7    In response to a question from Cllr Page on follow-up for patients discharged from the City Road service, Ms Caley told members that all patients will already have a Care Co-ordinator who will provide post-discharge support. There is the potential for further information about what happens to clients following their discharge from City Road. To date there have been no capacity problems at City Road; only one city patient has been unable to attend, and this was due to mobility issues.

41.8    In answer to a question from Dr Mack on the relatively low level of success in terms of opiate detoxification, Ms Caley told the Board that this is a situation that is reflected across the country. However, Brighton & Hove’s performance here is now in the top quartile nationally, and this represents a considerable achievement.

41.9   RESOLVED – that the report be noted.