| A response was needed on the Wirral to serve
the local population and so in August 1988 the Wirral HIV/AIDS
Prevention unit was set up at St. Catherine's Community Hospital
in |
|
Tranmere, Birkenhead. Dr.
Stefan Janikiewicz was appointed as Clinical Director;
a local GP, already prescribing to drug users from his
own surgery, it was felt that Dr. Janikiewicz was uniquely
placed to be the units Director. Using a building close
to the main entrance known as the Old Lodge, this unit
acted primarily as a syringe exchange scheme, distributing
almost 30,000 barrels and syringes to approximately
600 clients in it's first year alone. |
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| Over the next two years it became clear that
a substitute prescribing service would help improve treatment
offered to drug misusers and in April 1991 a community based
drug service was established next door to the existing premises.
By the following April the unit had attracted 750 patients,
the full complement of it's contractually agreed numbers;
as a whole both parts of the service were providing a comprehensive
drug treatment service at a community based hospital. |
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| The pressure on the service was still considerable
as far as requests for treatment were concerned and so, 2
years later in 1993 the unit began to work in a far more formalised
|
| way with local GPs. Although
GPs had treated drug users prior to the unit's opening
it was in a piecemeal and unsupported way, with no overall
guidelines and protocols. A new GP Liaison team was
set up and GPs were encouraged to join the scheme. Many
more patients could now be treated, not only at the
specialist drug unit, but also back at their own GP
practice, once a degree of stability was recognised
in their drug use. By April 1999 the GP team was treating
up to 450 patients. |
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| In April 2000 further funding was attracted
from the Birkenhead Primary Care Group enabling the team to
expand by a further 60 places to 510 shared care places. Further
funding has since been given by Wirral Drug Action Team to
expand shared care to 700 places across the Wirral and aims
to include all practices within the scheme. |
| |
| Detoxification services available to clients
were reviewed in July 1996 and in September our Detoxification
Team was launched. This service provides various community
based detox options to the unit's clients. From this date
Wirral Phoenix House, established in April 1987, has worked
in partnership with the unit in providing two beds used for
those clients requiring a residential detox. The detox team
moved in January 2002 to it's own separate building within
the hospital, known as 'The Port House'. |
| |
| Overall Wirral Drug Service now treats approximately
1,400 people in varying stages of their drug use. We have
been operating for almost ten years and have now grown into
the largest drug service in the United Kingdom and one of
the largest in Europe, employing over 40 staff. We feel we
are unique in the varied services offered to drug users on
the Wirral. Please enjoy these pages describing the unit's
work and feel free to comment or contact us. |
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| Clients currently in treatment represent
0.41% of the total Wirral population. |
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MISSION STATEMENT
WIRRAL DRUG SERVICE PROVIDES QUALITY
ACCESSIBLE
INTERVENTIONS FOR THOSE WHOSE LIVES ARE AFFECTED
BY DRUG USE, TREATING THEM WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
THE SERVICE RESPONDS TO THE DIVERSITY
OF THE COMMUNITY
AND RECOGNISES THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS, THEIR
FAMILIES AND CARERS.
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