P.38 of supplementary report

Opioid substitution treatment

The number of clients in receipt of opioid substitution treatment (outside of prison) (Expected Activity 9,400 Monthly)

• 9,497 December 2015, 9,339 December 2014, (1.7% increase/158). Variance from expected activity 1.0% (97)There is a slight variance in expected activity, but within this is within the expected norms of a Demand Led Service.

No. of clients in receipt of opioid substitution treatment (prisons) (Expected Activity 490) 

516 December 2015, 483 December 2014, (7% increase/31). Variance from expected activity 5.3% (26)

9,497 patients received Opioid Substitute Treatment (excluding prisons) for the December reporting period which includes 4,085 patients being treated by 345 GPs in the community. Opioid Substitute Treatment was dispensed by 665 pharmacies catering for 6,727 patients for the reporting period.At the end of the December reporting period there were 77 HSE clinics providing Opioid Substitute Treatment and 11 prisons clinics were provided in the prison service. 81 new patients commenced Opioid Substitute Treatment during the December reporting period (7 in General Practice, 62 in HSE clinics and 12 in the prison clinics).

Needle Exchange

No. of pharmacies recruited to provide Needle Exchange Programme (Expected Activity 129) 

• 115 December 2015, 114 September 2015, (<1% /increase/1). Variance from expected activity -10.8% (14)

A review was undertaken in 2015 of pharmacies recruited and a number of pharmacies advised that they were not in a position currently to offer the service. A targeted recruitment of pharmacies will be carried out in 2016 to complement existing services especially in areas of higher demand e.g. Waterford. The target will be achieved in 2016, but will be based on service user needs and where services are required.No. of unique individuals attending pharmacy needle exchange (Expected Activity 1200) 

• 1760 December 2015, 1586 September 2015, (10.9% Increase/174). Variance from expected activity 47% (560)

The number of unique individuals attending pharmacy needle exchange continues to increase, which reflects the type of demand lead service. This will be monitored in 2016 and in areas where expectations are exceeded, there will be a targeted approach to increase pharmacy participation where required.

No. of pharmacy needle exchange packs provided per month (Expected Activity 3200)

• 4595 December 2015, 4376 September 2015, (5% increase/219). Variance from expected activity 44%(1395)The number of packs provided per month significantly exceeded expected activity, this is a demand led service, and a positive outcome.

Average no. of needle/syringe packs per person (Expected Activity 15)

An average of 14 across 6 CHO’s for December 2015. An average of 17 across 6 CHOs for September 2015, (17.6% decrease/3). Variance from expected activity -7% (1 across 6 CHOs)There is a slight variation on expected activity, but within the expected norms of a demand led service.

No and % of needle packs returned (Expected Activity 30%)

•  1118 (24%) December 2015, 1127 (26%) September 2015, (-<1% decrease (9)

 The number of packs returned exceeded targeted activity, this is a demand led service, and a positive outcome. This is the total number of pack returned as an overall figure for six CHOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8.