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Local NHS to pilot radical approach to drugs recovery
12.04.11
NHS Wakefield District is one of eight sites selected by the Government to pilot innovative new ways to help drug addicts recover and achieve a sustained recovery.
The Payment by Results (PbR) scheme means that those providing substance misuse services locally will no longer be paid simply on activity but on the outcomes they achieve. The aim of the trial is to provide a renewed focus on giving clients the support they need to tackle the very individual problems they face in integrating more fully in society.
The announcement was made on Friday (8 April) by Public Health Minister Anne Milton. It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to go further and faster on improving the recovery of adults.
NHS Wakefield District’s Head of Public Health Development for Substance Misuse, Caroline Abbott said: “We are thrilled that we have been successful in our bid to pilot this scheme. Locally we are committed to ensuring our substance misuse services put the individual at the heart of their treatment, rather than offering a one size fits all type service.
“This pilot will help us to shift the focus on numbers of people in effective treatment to a greater and measurable focus on individual treatment outcomes. That’s great news for our clients and also means we are providing even better value for tax payer’s money.”
Each of the pilot sites will now start work on designing systems. These will reward providers who support individuals to recover from their dependence by using clear outcomes for the individual, their families and communities. It’s hoped the pilots will be up and running by October 2011.
Anne Milton said: "Drug addiction is often the result of a tragic cycle of family breakdown, poverty and crime. It has a corrosive effect on individuals and society.
“While we are working hard to prevent people using drugs in the first place. We are determined to get people off drugs and help them stay off. This is why we placed recovery at the heart of our strategy.
“Paying those organisations that provide drug recovery services for the outcomes they achieve is part of this. I have been so impressed by the incredible enthusiasm and desire that exists to move toward more innovative approaches to help people get free from drugs and get back into being part of society.
“I am confident that the local areas selected will help show how this can and should work in practice.”
Note to Editors
Issued by Jo Thorne – 01924 317660
NHS Wakefield District
1 NHS Wakefield District is responsible for commissioning health services across Wakefield, the five towns, and their surrounding communities. This includes community-based health services such as district nursing, health visiting and podiatry. NHS Wakefield District also oversees the work of GPs, dentists, opticians and pharmacists, and is responsible for commissioning mental health, hospital and other specialist services on behalf of local people.
2 In addition NHS Wakefield District carries out a wide-range of health promotion aimed at helping to improve the health and well-being of local people.
PbR pilot sites:
The successful pilot sites which have been invited to pilot the scheme are: Bracknell Forest, Enfield, Kent, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Stockport, Wakefield and Wigan.