Freedom of Information Request – Ref: 193-2024
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
You asked:
A comprehensive list of all services and programmes currently offered specifically for people with co-existing mental health and substance use needs.
Details on whether these services are integrated (addressing both issues simultaneously) or if they operate separately.
Our response:
GHC Co-occurring Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs (COMHAD) service provides several substantive activities:
Delivery of COMHAD integrated harm reduction/health education treatment approaches followed by regular joint working to aid delivery of effective treatment intervention
Provision of diagnostic clinics both in the community and in-patient services across all localities designed to actively support clients in the treatment pathway
Provision of specialist assessments and brief motivational enhancement intervention in conjunction with case managers/inpatient/community staff in mental health and substance misuse services
A rolling level 1 integrated training programme for all GHC/V-I-A mental health and inpatient staff addressing basic awareness issues and training in screening/detection and delivery of treatment intervention such as Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and pharmacology
Improving links and pathways of care between mental health and substance misuse services-an integrated GHC/V-I-A bilateral agreed treatment pathway already exists between both services ensuring effective referral processes exist between both services
Systematic research evaluation/audit of the effectiveness of the COMHAD and integrated treatment approaches exist with clients with complex needs
The team has recently established a nurse liaison post embedded in both mental health (AO) and the local substance misuse service (V-I-A) supporting best practice between colleagues in both services
The COMHAD service has effective links/work streams with several academic institutions locally/nationally including UoG and the national confederation of PROGRESS UK
The Trust provides Dual Diagnosis training which any member of staff (working for Gloucestershire Health and Care Trust) is able to attend but is required training for all clinical staff working in Assertive Outreach, Recovery Teams and the Crisis Service. The training aims to ensure staff can competently and confidently recognise patients’ complex needs in relationship with mental health and substance misuse problems; effectively engage with patients and refer to appropriate agencies.
You asked:
The eligibility criteria for accessing these services.
Information on referral processes, including whether self-referrals are accepted.
Copies of any evaluations, audits, or performance reports related to these services from the past three years.
Key performance indicators used to measure the effectiveness of the services.
Information on any partnerships with other organisations (e.g., NHS trusts, charities, community groups) in delivering these services.
Details of joint initiatives or programmes aimed at supporting this client group.
Any planned changes, expansions, or reductions to these services in the next 12 months.
Strategies in place to improve service delivery for individuals with co-existing mental health and substance use needs.
Average waiting times from referral to initial assessment and from assessment to commencement of treatment.
The total number of individuals who have accessed these services in the past three years, broken down by year.
The maximum capacity of each service or programme.
The number of staff dedicated to these services, including their professional qualifications.
Details of any specialised training provided to staff for working with co-existing conditions.
The annual budget allocated to these services for the past three financial years.
Information on any funding changes during this period and the reasons for such changes.
Our response:
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust unable to provide further information, we are only able to provide information on service that we provide and due to this being an integrated service that incorporates a number of external agencies we cannot provide detailed data for this particular cohort of patients.
Next steps:
Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:
Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.