Methadone Clinic in Campbeltown?

[Swanseajock]

I refer to my previous posts Me Lud Unless the programme is geared towrds helping addicts lower their dose and get of the hard stuff (and it never is - 60 year old addict still on Methadone who I deal with regularly) it is just feeding the habit of addicts, suplimenting their heroin habit. Last post from me on this matter

[the ice maiden]

Just wanted to highlight this again as it will be discussed at the Community Council's meeting on Monday 13th May at 7.30pm in the Victoria Hall.
This IS the time for anyone who is concerned to go and get their questions answered, and if you don't get them answered - demand them!
There is no point in moaning to each other when the people who SHOULD have all the answers will be at the meeting. The fact is, staff are beng paid to deliver this service already, it is just a question of when they start the clinic.

[Lesbaaaaa]

hm

[maxmix]

Just wanted to highlight this again as it will be discussed at the Community Council's meeting on Monday 13th May at 7.30pm in the Victoria Hall.
This IS the time for anyone who is concerned to go and get their questions answered, and if you don't get them answered - demand them!
There is no point in moaning to each other when the people who SHOULD have all the answers will be at the meeting. The fact is, staff are beng paid to deliver this service already, it is just a question of when they start the clinic.

So what was discussed at the meeting ? Did all go well ?

maxmix

[Kintyre Forum News]

Here is a wee update from the Campagin group to Stop the Medthdone Clinic in Campbeltown. See below

Received a copy of this e mail from Jamie McGrigor MSP sent to him from Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil MSP .......... Thank you for your email of 1 July enclosing your letter to the Chief Executive of NHS
Highland about the Board's proposals for a methadone clinic in Campbeltown.
As you know, the duty of the Scottish Government is to provide policies, frameworks and
resource...s to NHS Boards to allow them to deliver services that meet the needs of their local
population. Within this context, the actual provision of healthcare services is the
responsibility of local Health Boards - in this case NHS Highland - taking into account
national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment. It is therefore quite right
that you raise your concerns direct with the Board.
Please be assured I have noted your comments in your letter to the Chief Executive and I
would expect NHS Highland to respond to your concerns and to fully answer your questions.
In terms of consultation with the community, as you are aware all Health Boards have a
statutory duty to meaningfully engage with local stakeholders on the planning and provision
of NHS services and I would expect NHS Highland to engage with all local stakeholders in
taking any proposals forward.
I can advise you that Scotland's national drugs strategy - The Road to Recovery - sets out
our vision and priorities for tackling Scotland's drug problems, with recovery the explicit aim.
We have sustained record investment in drug treatment and support with funding of £30.3m
for 2013/14 alone. We also introduced a HEAT (Health Improvement; Efficiency; Access;
and Treatment) target to bring down drug treatment waiting times. I am pleased to let you
know that latest statistics show that over 94% of people started specialist drug treatment
within 3 weeks of their referral, exceeding the 90% HEAT target at national level for March
2013.
The Road to Recovery is also about treatment choice. For example, the Scottish
Government is clear that substitute prescribing such as methadone is only one component in
a package of care, treatment and recovery that can be offered to individuals to help them
recover from drug addiction.
St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh. EH1 3DG
www.scotland.gov.uk
What is important is that there are a range of treatments made available locally, as different
people will benefit from different approaches, depending on their individual needs. This can
include community and residential rehabilitation, counselling services, advocacy services as
well as substitute prescribing. Decisions on the type of treatment to prescribe are for
clinicians, in discussion with their clients, to agree upon within the context of long term
recovery and in line with good practice and the UK Guidelines on Clinical Management for
Drug Misuse and Dependence.
It is for Scotland's 30 Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to develop effective local strategies to
tackle problem drug use in their local area. These local strategies need to be based on a
robust assessment of needs, a transparent evidence-based process for agreeing how funds
are deployed, and a clear focus on the outcomes that the investment is achieving within their
communities.
You will appreciate that Scottish Ministers are unable to intervene in local decision making
as it is up to local partners to decide how their funding is spent according to local needs and
in line with the evidence base for effective treatment provision. As already mentioned,
decisions on the configuration of local services are for NHS Boards to make and I would
expect that to take place in the context of strong partnership working at local level.
I hope this is helpful.
ALEX NEIL

[Kintyre Forum News]

News release from Jamie McGrigor MSP & Cllr Donald Kelly:

McGrigor and Kelly continue to press NHS Highland on proposed Campbeltown methadone clinic.

Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP, and Councillor Donald Kelly (South Kintyre) have once again urged NHS Highland to reconsider their plans to establish a methadone clinic in Campbeltown. They spoke out following the recent visit to the town of the Scottish Cabinet where Public Health Minister Michael Matheson told concerned locals that a methadone clinic would not be forced on the community if they did not want it.

Speaking today Cllr Kelly, who recently held talks in Campbeltown on this subject with the chairman of NHS Highland Garry Coutts, as well as proposals to reduce inpatient bed numbers at Campbeltown hospital, at a meeting organised by Jamie McGrigor, said:

“ Given Michael Matheson’s comments in Campbeltown in answering concerns raised with him by members of the public about the proposed clinic and given the fact that local police have confirmed that Campbeltown does not have a hard drugs problem, it seems to me astonishing that NHS Highland seem determined to press ahead.”

Jamie McGrigor MSP said:

“ I have already raised local concerns with both NHS Highland and the Health Secretary Alex Neil and I will be making further representations to NHS Highland in light of Mr Matheson’s comments. There continues to be real scepticism in Campbeltown about the need for this clinic and NHS Highland must do more to respond to the concerns and anxieties of local people.”

[Stebyr]

One matter which was brought up at the public meeting following the Scottish Government Cabinet meeting and actually adversely affects more people in the area than the Methadone clinic and has been ignored by the local media (as well as the MSP and Councillor) are the problems caused by the 'bedroom tax'. Figures recently issued by the Government show that the cost of the 'bedroom tax' is £1.6 billion compared the anticipated savings of £1.2 billion not to mention the cost to individuals. This money will be clawed back after the next election if the coalition win. Who will it be clawed back from? certainly not from the higher income earners, those who evade tax or those companies who give jobs at minimum hours and expect the taxpayer to top up the incomes. I predict that between now and the next election we will hear coalition politions and see stories about wealthy pensioners to condition people into thinking that pensions can be cut. Can we have as much time and effort on this real problem than that given to an imagined problem.

News release from Jamie McGrigor MSP & Cllr Donald Kelly:

McGrigor and Kelly continue to press NHS Highland on proposed Campbeltown methadone clinic.

Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP, and Councillor Donald Kelly (South Kintyre) have once again urged NHS Highland to reconsider their plans to establish a methadone clinic in Campbeltown. They spoke out following the recent visit to the town of the Scottish Cabinet where Public Health Minister Michael Matheson told concerned locals that a methadone clinic would not be forced on the community if they did not want it.

Speaking today Cllr Kelly, who recently held talks in Campbeltown on this subject with the chairman of NHS Highland Garry Coutts, as well as proposals to reduce inpatient bed numbers at Campbeltown hospital, at a meeting organised by Jamie McGrigor, said:

“ Given Michael Matheson’s comments in Campbeltown in answering concerns raised with him by members of the public about the proposed clinic and given the fact that local police have confirmed that Campbeltown does not have a hard drugs problem, it seems to me astonishing that NHS Highland seem determined to press ahead.”

Jamie McGrigor MSP said:

“ I have already raised local concerns with both NHS Highland and the Health Secretary Alex Neil and I will be making further representations to NHS Highland in light of Mr Matheson’s comments. There continues to be real scepticism in Campbeltown about the need for this clinic and NHS Highland must do more to respond to the concerns and anxieties of local people.”

[devontoffee]

Seems that this month there's a clinic starting up making sure we aren't told until after its all up and running all trying to keep it really secret as usual.

The lies seem to carry on and the number of people involved in telling the lies gets bigger.

Can anyone who knows the score tell us whats going on.

The councillors seem to be allowing this to happen right under our noses, so much for their
promises, easy seen there's no local votes being asked for or they would be all shouting.

[petewick]

Seems that this month there's a clinic starting up making sure we aren't told until after its all up and running all trying to keep it really secret as usual.

The lies seem to carry on and the number of people involved in telling the lies gets bigger.

Can anyone who knows the score tell us whats going on.

The councillors seem to be allowing this to happen right under our noses, so much for their
promises, easy seen there's no local votes being asked for or they would be all shouting.

Aye, it went all quiet while they got things under way, now surprise surprise.........welcome to junkie town......

[devontoffee]

COMMUNITY cOUNCIL GOT IT RIGHT ALL ALONG THEY SAID THAT NHS ARE FORCING THIS THROUGH. NHS LIED AT THE PUBLIC MEETING, THEY CALLED US MUGS BASICALLY AND THEYRE SHOWING US WHAT THEY THINK OF OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN DOES THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEET THEY NEED TO GIVE US ANSWERS. WHO DECIDED THIS DID THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGREE.