Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Deputy Director of Public Health.

In December 2014, as part of the Investing in Stockport Preventative Commissioning Strategy, the Council Executive agreed to the redesign of Stockport’s drug and alcohol system.  The aim was to improve overall service provision at a reduced budget (saving £0.5 million from the Public Health Grant).  The majority of these savings came from the retender and redesign of adult community based drug and alcohol services.    

The new drug and alcohol system went live on 1 October 2015.  This report outlines the key aims of the new system and how it has been established, provides an update on progress so far and identifies the next steps.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the report and comment on the progress made in the delivery of the new model.

Officer contact: Donna Sager, 0161 474 3928, donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on progress within implementing the redesigned drug and alcohol treatment and recovering system following the changes agreed as part of the Investing in Stockport Preventative Commissioning Strategy. New services had been introduced from 1 October 2015.

The Chair reminded the Scrutiny Committee that it had been broadly supportive of the proposals as part of its Scrutiny Review into alcohol services.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Councillors asked what involvement there was with pharmacists and GPs in the new service. In relation to pharmacists a specific query was raised about how they could work with new providers to address prescription and over-the-counter medication dependency. In response it was stated that part of the specification for the new service was for successful bidders to improve links with both pharmacists and GPs. It was also commented that Stockport Together was seeking to improve prevention through greater integration.

·         A question was asked about whether the transition to the new service had led to any clients being ‘lost’ to the service. In response it was stated that measures were put in place to minimise the disruption to existing clients. The new services had continued to be provided from existing premises, such as Cirtek House, and this had reduced the disruption.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and progress with implementing the new Drug and Alcohol services be welcomed.