Alcohol and Drug Partnership waiting times must improve, says Briggs

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has raised concerns with SNP Ministers about waiting times for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in Lothian, following latest ISD figures for the quarter ending 31^st March 2019.

NHS Lothian Alcohol and Drug Partnership waiting times are the longest in Scotland, with Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian ADPs all missing the 90% target for patients being seen within three weeks for Alcohol and drug treatments.

For the quarter ending 31^st March 2019, 1206 patients were seen by Alcohol and Drug partnerships in Lothian, with 79.4% being seen within the target of three weeks from referral, compared to a 90% standard.

Waiting times for alcohol and drug treatments have not improved across Lothian ADPs, with 79.6% of patients being seen within the three week target for the quarter ending 31^st March 2018.

West Lothian is the worst performing out of all ADPs, dropping to 59.9% seen within three weeks, for the quarter ended 31^st March 2019, compared to the previous figures of 71.4% of patients being seen within three weeks for quarter ended 31^st December 2018.

Last month it was revealed that the number of hospital admissions in Lothian has been rising over the last decade, with 1,338 hospital admission for drugs in 2017/18, compared to 951 in 2007/08, ten years ago.

Tory health spokesperson Miles Briggs has written again to the Minister for Public Health to raise his concerns about ADP referral times in Lothian, that they are not improving, and the impact this will have on admissions to hospital for Alcohol and Drugs.

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative Lothian MSP, said: “It is crucial that patients who need who need treatment for alcohol and drugs get this treatment within the three week target, rather than having to wait months to get the support that they need.

“There has been no improvement in the number of patients being seen within the three week waiting target for Alcohol and Drug Partnership in Lothian, despite assurance from SNP Minister.

“Waiting times for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships across Lothian are unacceptably long and must improve.

“I have written to the Minister for Public Health to again raise my concerns that people who are in urgent need of treatment for Alcohol and Drugs in Lothian are having to wait so long for treatment.”