Information for GPs and Pharmacists
General Practitioners
GPs provide a range of key services to substance misuse clients in Blackpool including GMS in surgeries and treatment through the Intermediate Shared Care Clinic provided at FCMS.
Information on referring patients, adults and young people can be found on the drugs main page as can information about support offered through the Family Support Project.
True Shared Care
This service can be provided through the practice with the support of a dedicated Keyworker/Shared Care Nurse, and is designed for stable/low dose clients already registered with the practice only.
Payments for undertaking this enhanced service will be made on a per patient basis.
Referral pathways will be put in place for direct referral into specalist services if clients in this service relapse and become more problematic.
GPs interested in providing shared care in their practice can contact nicky.dennison@blackpool.nhs.uk to discuss contractual issues further.
GPs undertaking shared care will be expected to show a commitment to undertaking the Pt 1 of the RCGP Certificate in The Management of Drug Misuse.
NHS Blackpool can arrange access to this training locally.
Further information can also be found at:
http://www.rcgp.org.uk/
Pharmacists
Pharamcists in Blackpool play a key role in the shared care of clients in substance misuse treatment and accessing harm reduction interventions.
The two main services offered through pharmacies are:
- Supervised consumption of methadone
As per the clinical guidelines, all clients entering substitute opioid treatment are initiated with a period of at least three months supervised consumption.
Currently 24 pharmacies in Blackpool offer this service developed under the New Contratual Framework for Community Pharmacy.
Information on the nature of the service provided and the requirements of pharmacists undertaking this service are outlined in the Service Protocol which also includes information for those wishing to join this scheme and remuneration rates.
9 pharmacies provide needle exchange services in Blackpool in addition to a specalist exchange at Whitegate Drive and an agency exchange provided by Drugline.
This service is under review and will be re-tendered when all pharmacies will be contacted and invited to join the scheme under the new protocol, developed in line with the New Contratual Framework for Community Pharmacy and NTA/RPSGB guidance.
Further information resources
The Substance Misuse Management in General Practice website http://www.smmgp.org.uk contains a wealth of information and energetic discussion boards for both GPs and Pharmacists.
Guidance documents:
Available from:
http://www.smmgp.org.uk/download/guidance/guidance003.pdf
- RCGP Guidance for the Use of Methadone of the Treatment of Opioid Dependance in Primary Care
Available from:
http://www.smmgp.org.uk/download/guidance/guidance015.pdf
Available from:
http://www.smmgp.org.uk/download/guidance/guidance010.pdf
- NICE (2007) Methadone and buprenorphene for managing opioid dependance
Available from:
http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/TA114
- Guidance on Prescribing Benzodiazepines to Drug Users in Primary Care
Available from:
http://www.smmgp.org.uk/download/guidance/guidance006.pdf
- RCGP Guidance for Working with Cocaine & Crack Users in Primary Care
Available from:
http://www.smmgp.org.uk/download/guidance/guidance013.pdf
- RCGP/SMMGP Hepititis C Guidance including appendices on HIV, Hep A & Hep B
Available from:
http://www.smmgp.org.uk/download/guidance/guidance003.pdf
- RCGP Guidance for Hepatitis A & B Vaccination of Drug Users in Primary Care & Criteria for Audit
Available from:
http://www.smmgp.org.uk/download/guidance/guidance014.pdf
