Glasgow service for addicts ‘under threat’

Glasgow’s pioneering addictions service could be threatened by the break-up of the merger of social work and health services, union leaders have warned.

Unison has expressed concerns that rehabilitation services could be adversely affected by the health board’s decision to end community health care partnerships (CHCPs) with the council and go it alone.

There is understood to be friction between Glasgow City Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde over the running of the jointly managed addictions service.

Unions have expressed concern about a “lack of clarity” over the plans and any potential negative impact on funding. The service’s annual budget from the health board and council amounts to £50 million.

NHS GGC claim the service will continue to be jointly funded and that discussions are ongoing about the final structure of the service.

However union leaders say it is inevitable that some support services will be adversely affected and pointed to the loss of the general manager’s post in the joint service.

It comes after the head of the Glasgow service, Eric Steel, warned earlier that the service would need to double in size to deal with every problem addict in the city.

Estimates suggest around 10,000 addicts and drug users are not receiving any help.

Matt McLaughlin, Unison representative for NHS GGC, said: “We would be concerned about any lack of clarity. It’s not good for the professionals or the service users.

“We would hope that the quality of service isn’t going to be impacted because of any arguments between the council and the health board about who is in charge.

“For all the problems of CHCPs, the addictions service has been positive.”

Ronnie Stevenson, Unison’s social work convenor for Glasgow, said: “At a strategic level the joint partnership is no longer running.

“There will still be a degree of co-operation but the full implications are not known at this stage.”

NHS GGC voted in May to break up the network of community health care partnerships (CHCPs) and proceed as a single entity.

It follows the city council’s decision not to commit £400m to the CHCPs in a one-off move and instead contribute incrementally.