We provided a national picture of buprenorphine service provision and collated a resource pack for consistent service delivery and collaboration.
Objective
The government report ‘From harm to hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives’ (2021) sets out its strategy to cut off supply of drugs by criminal gangs and give people with a drug addiction a route to a productive and drug-free life. One of the plans is to explore the rollout of new treatment options, such as the buprenorphine long-acting injection.
NHS England wanted to identify the current national service provision of the buprenorphine long-acting injection for people recovering from opiate dependence within a framework of medical, social, and psychological treatment. Resources were needed to support Health and Justice (HJ) sites to deliver it consistently and to a high standard.
What we did
We provided a comprehensive review of the 115 national HJ sites that were already providing the buprenorphine long-acting injection for people recovering from opiate dependence and the sites that were yet to. Using a survey to collate the information, we identified the barriers and challenges to service provision and examples of best practice.
Using survey findings and geospatial mapping, we provided NHS England with a national picture of the sites providing the service. This was accompanied by a formal report containing the findings and recommendations for next steps.
We hosted and delivered a national webinar in January 2023 to present the survey results. Presentations were also given by colleagues from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, clinicians working within the HJ sector, and representatives from those service providers already implementing the service. A ‘frequently asked questions’ list of key themes and topics was compiled from questions asked by attendees.
A resource pack for HJ sites and community facilities was collated to support sites to deliver consistent services across the country and encourage collaboration between HJ sites and community services.
Activity
Medicines optimisation
Geospatial services
Outcome
- The current service provision of buprenorphine long-acting injection across 115 HJ sites in England was mapped.
- The treatment roll-out across HJ sites in England as part of the national strategy to reduce harm and maximise long-term recovery for people on Opiate Substitution Treatment was supported.
