de-escalation of opiates in northern Ireland

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Health and Social Care Board for Northern Ireland should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Health and Social Care Board for Northern Ireland,
This request relates to the service provided within the HSCB relating to de-escalation of opiates
This request does NOT relate to instances of illegal drug misuse
This request does relate specifically to those cases where there is an underlying condition leading to a need for chronic or acute pain management for which opioids have been prescribed and has led to chemical dependence. De-escalation and withdrawal management from opioids in these cases needs to be done in conjunction with the requirement to continue treating the underlying condition.
1. What pathway does the HSCB advise is followed in dealing with de-escalation of opiates?
2. What are the organisational units inside each trust (team structure & hierarchy) involved in providing de-escalation of opioids?
3. What are the organisational units inside each trust (team structure & hierarchy) involved in providing de-escalation of opioids? (Can the hierarchy be provided up to Director level please?)
4. Is there a specific multi-disciplinary team set up for providing de-escalation of opiates? If so – can you provide the supervisory recommendation of membership of the MDT team and state how often that it has met in the last 12 months?
5. How many cases of de-escalation of prescribed opioids have been initiated and managed in each trust since 1st April 2019
Can this information be broken down by year?
- 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020
- 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021
- 1st April 2021 to current day
6. What is the existing policy used by HSCB for trusts to manage de-escalation of opioids at present?
This should include – but not be necessarily limited to –use of care plans, patient involvement in decision making, support systems availability, liaison with local GP’s, regular consultation expectations, continuous review.

Yours faithfully,

helen hamill

David Johnston, Health and Social Care Board for Northern Ireland

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“This email is covered by the disclaimer found at the end of the message.”

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Dear Ms Hamill,

 

Further to your conversation with Mr Peter Moran today, please see below
formal acknowledgment of your request.

 

Ref: Freedom of Information Request: No. FOI 1322 21

 

Thank you for your request for information. Your request was received by
the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) on 28th October 2021. Your request
will be processed under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000,
within the statutory timescale of 20 working days.

 

The leaflet attached is provided for your information and tells you about
the legislation and our procedures for dealing with requests for
information.

 

If you have any queries about this communication, please do not hesitate
to contact me.  It would be helpful if you could quote the reference
number above in any future communications relating to this request for
information.

 

I trust you find this helpful.

                                                                                                                

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Sent by David Johnston on behalf of

 

 

Mr Peter Moran

Assistant Information Governance Manager

HSCB

Western Office

 

 

show quoted sections

Dear David Johnston,
Thankyou David,
i really hope there is a data base collatable.
helen

Yours sincerely,

helen hamill