£2m-a-year spend in Sandwell drug treatment plan
Up to £2 million per year will be spent on providing drug treatment to residents in Sandwell under a new scheme.
The borough’s current adult treatment service is run by a charity called Swanswell on a contract from Sandwell Primary Care Trust.
In April, a new service model will be introduced when Sandwell Council takes control of the PCT. It will be funded from a ring-fenced public health budget and will see an additional £500,000 spent annually on drug treatment in Sandwell.
Swanswell’s contract was due to end in August but is being extended until January 2014 to give council bosses time to put it out to tender.
Under new plans, the service has been commissioned to introduce a new procedure model to treat those who are addicted.
The new model will have three elements, which will include promoting and providing better access to the service, providing treatment and helping addicts recover from addiction.
A report to the council’s health boss, Councillor Paul Moore, says the new model will offer a safe, effective and cost-effective range of drug treatment services.
The report states: “The anticipated financial cost of the service is being developed and is likely to cost a maximum of £2m per year.”
The report adds: “The transition and move into Sandwell Council provides renewed opportunity to redefine service boundaries across health, social care and all stakeholders to fully assimilate shared agendas around families, employment and recovery.”
The new model will include both community, clinical and non-clinical services and focus on helping people have a sustained recovery.
It is hoped that more people will access the service, there will be fewer drug-related deaths and blood born viruses, and there will be a reduction in crime, and addicts will have an improved mental and physical well being. Currently Swanswell is operated out of Metro Court in West Bromwich, but the new scheme will involve more outreach working, and discussions are being held to ascertain the best place to run the service from.
Councillor Moore said: “This new service will look at working more within the community, rather than being based in one place. ”
Councillor Moore was expected to approve the investment at a meeting this afternoon.
Comments for: "£2m-a-year spend in Sandwell drug treatment plan"
Rob
More money taken from working people and squandered on society's dregs.
No doubt a hefty number of "professionals" will ride the gravy-train for all its worth.
Angry Allan
Is that you, David Cameron in disguise?
The Daily Mail website is that way ------>>
Pete
I'm sorry folks i'm with Rob on this one, that money could be spent on better things, however there is a need to sort these issues out but I don't see how throwing money at the problem is the right way to deal with it. I personally don't see how it can be tackled. My son's girlfriend works in this type of job and she has to go into prisons to speak to clients (not the best of places) among other's and she says she doesn't make much headway with the clients, it's just another visitor to them, an hour out of the cell or whatever. Also my opinion is there is some people who are past help. The same with alchohol abuse.
simonDarby
This is a great idea, you obviously have no idea how much crime is committed by addicts in order to feed their habit, these people need help, what do you suggest we just carry on with things as the way they are? Are you a complete idiot?
Your sons girlfriend obviously isn't doing a very good job, maybe she's in the wrong career and would be more suited doing shift work in a factory?
Pete
No I'm not a complete idiot Simon I'm a law abiding tax payer who has a right to my point of view and I did say there is a need to sort this problem out but didn't know how. As for my son's girlfriend you don't know the work she put's into her job at evenings and weekends (unpaid) and she has done shifts and weekends in hospitals to pay her fees helping these people to gain her degree in this line of work. You haven't got the right to question whether she does a good job or not What I was saying was, there are some people who want help and others who don't !
simonDarby
We will have to agree to disagree and just to add I have common sense and my own opinion, therefore I have a right to question anyone I want on whether they do a good job or not.
I am happy to buy you a pint and we will let bygones be bygones. Hug?
Brett
Good luck addressing the alleged drug trade within the prison system. Talking of addiction.. I hear the government is addicted to spending absurd amounts of money it's own interests, including overseas interests (£40bn for a sub!). Can we please put them on a treatment plan (call it the Common Sense plan).
Cllr Paul Moore
Rob: Due to the Government's reforms of the NHS, all local authorities are required to provide drug and alcohol treatment services from 1 April. This isn't something we can choose to do. Public Health is transferring to councils from Primary Care Trusts.