One year on , an alliance of 13 NHS trusts is gaining momentum in addressing the failings of the sector and developing more effective pathways to care , as Danny Hames explains
A morAl imperAtive
The NHS Substance Misuse Providers Alliance ( NHSSMPA ) has been in existence for just over a year . NHSSMPA is a collaboration of 13 NHS trusts , all of which provide substance misuse services in the community and prisons . While NHS provision has changed in the last few years and just over a quarter all community substance misuse treatment systems are NHS , we continue to provide inpatient detoxification facilities nationwide and work in numerous prisons . Celebrating 70 years of the NHS , and in this time working with those affected by drugs and alcohol , means it is in our DNA .
Our aims are to work more closely as NHS providers , and with our colleagues in the third sector , to improve
Age-specific mortality rates for deaths relating to drug misuse , deaths registered 1993 to 2016 . England and Wales
outcomes for service users through sharing and de vel - op ing practice and to offer policy makers engage ment with the NHS substance misuse community .
What unites NHSSMPA is a belief that people deserve high quality services which can improve their lives . For us , this means a competent and qualified workforce where volunteers complement but are not relied upon ; interventions that are evidence based and individualised ; that we are effective partners and contributors to a local health and social care economy ; and that we protect the safety of our service users while walking alongside them to provide the best chance of recovery .
The impact of the abstinence vs harm reduction debates of the last few years , leading directly and indirectly to some some individuals being pushed through treatment systems too quickly , has been oversimplified and dangerous . Thankfully , NHSSMPA believes the new drug strategy and the presentations accompanying this have underlined a change in tone . For us as NHS providers , harm reduction has always and continues to be a priority .
There is ( quite rightly ) a very prominent debate regarding the reduction in funding for substance misuse services , and of course NHSSMPA strongly believes that services should be adequately
funded . However , we should not let this mask the fact that recently doubt has been cast upon the governance and quality of the sector .
The emphasis on ensuring we are competent and thoughtful guardians of funding , and that this properly benefits service users , has never been more important . Local authorities are experiencing significant challenges to their budgets and there are numerous patient groups deserving of funding . So there is a strong moral imperative to use the monies we receive effectively , most importantly because :
1 . We are seeing the highest levels of drug-related deaths since records began . In 2016 this numbered 2,593 deaths associated with drug misuse .
2 . Recovery rates are dropping for opiate users . In 2011 -12 treatment completion was 8.59 per cent ; year to end November 2017 it was 6.7 per cent ( NDTMS ). This is all despite a narrative underpinning many procurement exercises that service redesign will mean improved performance .
3 . The CQC ’ s recent review of non NHS residential was shocking – 63 per cent of services were assessed as not meeting the regulation on ‘ safe care and treatment ’ ( CQC ).
4 . The unfortunate demise of Lifeline , a charity with an income of £ 53m , demonstrated poor organisational governance and left more than 5,300 potential creditors , including other charities .
‘ The impact of the abstinence vs harm reduction debates of the last few years , leading directly and indirectly to some some individuals being pushed through treatment systems too quickly , has been oversimplified and dangerous .‘
NHSSMPA is highly committed to advocating for appropriate funding , but we must not ignore that there have been very significant indications that the sector needs to improve its governance and outcomes for patients . NHSSMPA organisations have a public service and moral duty to achieve this . Over the coming years NHS providers will make our contribution and commit our expertise , because justifying the effectiveness and quality of what we offer has never been more necessary .
Danny Hames is chair of the NHS Substance Misuse Providers Alliance
If you are a NHS trust and would like to find out more about NHSSMPA please contact candie . lincoln @ sssft . nhs . uk
12 | drinkanddrugsnews | February 2018 www . drinkanddrugsnews . com
partnerships
One year on, an alliance of 13
NHS trusts is gaining momentum
in addressing the failings of the
sector and developing more
effective pathways to care,
as Danny Hames explains
A morAl
imperAtive
he NHS Substance Misuse Providers
Alliance (NHSSMPA) has been in existence
for just over a year. NHSSMPA is a
collaboration of 13 NHS trusts, all of
which provide substance misuse services
in the community and prisons. While NHS
provision has changed in the last few years and just
over a quarter all community substance misuse
treatment systems are NHS, we continue to provide
inpatient detoxification facilities nationwide and work
in numerous prisons. Celebrating 70 years of the NHS,
and in this time working with those affected by drugs
and alcohol, means it is in our DNA.
Our aims are to work more closely as NHS providers,
and with our colleagues in the third sector, to improve
outcomes for service users through sharing and de vel -
op ing practice and to offer policy makers engage ment
with the NHS substance misuse community.
What unites NHSSMPA is a belief that people
deserve high quality services which can improve their
lives. For us, this means a competent and qualified
workforce where volunteers complement but are not
relied upon; interventions that are evidence based and
individualised; that we are effective partners and
contributors to a local health and social care economy;
and that we protect the safety of our service users
while walking alongside them to provide the best
chance of recovery.
The impact of the abstinence vs harm reduction
debates of the last few years, leading directly and
indirectly to some some
individuals being pushed
Age-specific mortality rates for deaths relating to drug
through treatment systems
misuse, deaths registered 1993 to 2016. England and Wales
too quickly, has been over-
simplified and dangerous.
Thankfully, NHSSMPA
believes the new drug
strategy and the
presentations
accompanying this have
underlined a change in
tone. For us as NHS
providers, harm reduction
has always and continues
to be a priority.
There is (quite rightly) a
very prominent debate
regarding the reduction in
funding for substance
misuse services, and of
course NHSSMPA strongly
believes that services
should be adequately
T
12 | drinkanddrugsnews | February 2018
funded. However, we should not let this mask the fact
that recently doubt has been cast upon the
governance and quality of the sector.
The emphasis on ensuring we are competent and
thoughtful guardians of funding, and that this
properly benefits service users, has never been more
important. Local authorities are experiencing
significant challenges to their budgets and there are
numerous patient groups deserving of funding. So
there is a strong moral imperative to use the monies
we receive effectively, most importantly because:
1. We are seeing the highest levels of drug-related
deaths since records began. In 2016 this numbered
2,593 deaths associated with drug misuse.
2. Recovery rates are dropping for opiate users. In
2011 -12 treatment completion was 8.59 per cent;
year to end November 2017 it was 6.7 per cent
(NDTMS). This is all despite a narrative
underpinning many procurement exercises that
service redesign will mean improved performance.
3. The CQC’s recent review of non NHS residential was
shocking – 63 per cent of services were assessed as
not meeting the regulation on ‘safe care and
treatment’ (CQC).
4. The unfortunate demise of Lifeline, a charity with
an income of £53m, demonstrated poor
organisational governance and left more than
5,300 potential creditors, including other charities.
‘The impact of the abstinence
vs harm reduction debates of
the last few years, leading
directly and indirectly to some
some individuals being pushed
through treatment systems
too quickly, has been over-
simplified and dangerous.‘
NHSSMPA is highly committed to advocating for
appropriate funding, but we must not ignore that
there have been very significant indications that the
sector needs to improve its governance and outcomes
for patients. NHSSMPA organisations have a public
service and moral duty to achieve this. Over the
coming years NHS providers will m )ɥѥЁȁѥ͔͔)ѥ她ѡѥٕ́Յ䁽ݡЁݔ)ȁٕ́ȁɔͅ)!́́ȁѡ9!LMՉх5͔)Aɽ٥́)%ԁɔ9!LЁݽձѼ)ɔЁ9!MM5A͔х)͙й̹լ)ܹɥ՝̹