Funding hits care of alcohol addicts (From The Northern Echo)

Funding hits care of alcohol addicts

8:18am Thursday 3rd July 2008 in

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VULNERABLE people are not getting help to beat their problems with alcohol, because of a lack of funding for an addiction treatment service.

No dedicated treatment for alcoholics is being offered in the Hambleton and Richmondshire districts of North Yorkshire, after a substance misuse group run by a primary care trust decided to withdraw its services to patients with drink problems.

Senior NHS doctors in the area have written to healthcare bosses at North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT), pleading for funds to be made available.

In the letters seen by The Northern Echo, doctors talk of feeling demoralised and helpless by the lack of funding.

One letter from a senior healthcare professional, whose identity we are not revealing, expresses "concern at the continued absence of a commissioned alcohol service"

for the area.

The letter, dated June 3, reads: "I understand from my colleagues in the PCT that such a service will not be commissioned this year or next. This is very disappointing."

The letter says Hambleton and Richmondshire Substance Misuse Services (HARSMS) will no longer provide a service to patients with alcohol problems.

It reads: "HARSMS is funded to provide treatment to drug users only.

"Historically, a service has been provided to patients with alcohol problems. However, there are very long waiting lists.

"As the demands on this team to demonstrate improving performance on treating drug misuse are increasing, they will cease to provide any further service to patients referred for the treatment of alcohol dependency.

"The service will continue to treat existing patients with alcohol problems and will work through its waiting list as resources allow."

A trust spokesman said: "The PCT is fully aware of this issue, and we are working closely with our healthcare colleagues to implement a full review of this service.

Nothing has been decided yet.

"This is a problem, and more funds need to be allocated for alcohol, rather than drugs.

"We are meeting with clinicians and healthcare professionals in the area, and reviewing the services we provide."

Councillor Ralph Andrew, Hambleton council's member for health, said: "I have a meeting scheduled with the PCT in the near future, and I intend to discuss this with them, along with issues about improving health in Hambleton."