Government Reductions Starting In My Area

[froude]

My partner has just come back from her fortnightly appointment with her Keyworker and he told her that in our Area the Government wants no people on maintenence scripts,and they are doing a 14 week reduction programme.As we are with the Mental Health Team and been on scripts for 7 years he said it would not apply to her (thankfully),i have an appointment with the same Service Provider this afternoon ,but different Keyworker so hopefully i can find something more out about this complete nonsense,Have a good day all the best Froude.

[simon]

My partner has just come back from her fortnightly appointment with her Keyworker and he told her that in our Area the Government wants no people on maintenence scripts,and they are doing a 14 week reduction programme.As we are with the Mental Health Team and been on scripts for 7 years he said it would not apply to her (thankfully),i have an appointment with the same Service Provider this afternoon ,but different Keyworker so hopefully i can find something more out about this complete nonsense,Have a good day all the best Froude.

Could you kindly ask when the Dept. of health and NICE guidelines were changed? I think you'll find they haven't. NICE guidelines were drawn up from a massive literary search of all the best evidence worldwide on methadone treatment, could you ask where the new research and clinical evidence came from. It's also important to mention that PCT's have to provide treatment endorsed by NICE so yoy might want to take it up with the chief executive of the PCT.
 You might want to ask why Methadone is on the world health organisations list of essential medications that must be provided.
I hope your session goes well and you come out refreshed and invigorated.

[froude]

Thanks for that Simon ,have just come back from my appointment with my key,when i mentioned what the misses was told this morning he would only say that new clients will be given  treatment plan that is over 14 weeks and it doesnt apply to me so can we get on with the session.I also told him that i had  used (crack &heroin)only a ten of each and he came out with if it happens again we will have to deal with it,like it was a major relapse,by then i had read his name tag and it did say Specialist Social Worker so i walked out.My D.S.P know i have a problem with Social Workers from when i was subjected to abuse in kids homes and there is a bloke in front of me who is a Social Worker,i didnt say much as i didnt want to lose my script or get nicked.All the best Froude.

[derek d j]

I wish these providers would stop claiming company to be government policy.

Sadly, many users, particularly if they're new to treatment, don't know otherwise. When an apparent health service professional tells you something, you tend to believe they speak the truth.   

Voluntary Sector corporations do not, in fact, run the country. They pull every stunt in the book to encourage the government to follow their lead but the government strategy nonetheless acknowledges the place of 'medically assisted recovery'.

Tell your dsp acquaintances, Froude. Enough users already suffer for the fantasies of clueless providers. Such misrepresentation should not be permitted and those who do so should not assume they act with impunity.

[froude]

The way my phone call went earlier(manager ringing me in morning)they were even surprised themselves that i was with that particular keyworker,saying there must be some mistake,i wasnt amused when someone tried to apologise,your fuck up ,you sort it and put the phone down.5 minutes later i got someone ringing me back saying they know how i feel,and like i said the manager ringing in morning,i said unless they have been abused they aint got a clue and put the phone down.All the best Froude

[simon]

I wish these providers would stop claiming company to be government policy.

Sadly, many users, particularly if they're new to treatment, don't know otherwise. When an apparent health service professional tells you something, you tend to believe they speak the truth.   

Voluntary Sector corporations do not, in fact, run the country. They pull every stunt in the book to encourage the government to follow their lead but the government strategy nonetheless acknowledges the place of 'medically assisted recovery'.

Tell your dsp acquaintances, Froude. Enough users already suffer for the fantasies of clueless providers. Such misrepresentation should not be permitted and those who do so should not assume they act with impunity.

See less patients it needs less staff and makes more money.

[usandthem]

Simon..you are correct.. The orange guidlines have not changed and never can unless the NHS NICEboard of trustees say so. I have been in contact with them recently and they are very helpful I can tell you that..A case of mis-information or someones telling porkies. The M-Alliance will know about government policy and ~NTA , NICE guidlines' or changes regarding, before your key worker or spouse/friend. Stay tuned. Listen to Simon people - he knows his S***T

[simon]

Thanks for that Simon ,have just come back from my appointment with my key,when i mentioned what the misses was told this morning he would only say that new clients will be given  treatment plan that is over 14 weeks and it doesnt apply to me so can we get on with the session.I also told him that i had  used (crack &heroin)only a ten of each and he came out with if it happens again we will have to deal with it,like it was a major relapse,by then i had read his name tag and it did say Specialist Social Worker so i walked out.My D.S.P know i have a problem with Social Workers from when i was subjected to abuse in kids homes and there is a bloke in front of me who is a Social Worker,i didnt say much as i didnt want to lose my script or get nicked.All the best Froude.

Crikey, that's a great way to make sure patients lie. Punish patients and make it really hard for them to be truthful excellent plan.
They should stop your prescription and encourage self-flagellation.

[OP8S]

It's funny, a lot of people my way talk of Gov. Policy, or soon to take effect policy. Not me anymore because I just asked my GP about it & he agreed that they work of the Orange Guidlines & that he wouldn't force a reduction on me. I talk to people who are being hassled into thinking it's new Gov. policy, it's not. It may be the aim of this Gov. , with " the road to recovery " & all that but it's simply not policy. I tell them to have the same discussion with the GP as I did & the ones that do then don't have to listen about new friggin policy from their keys. It's a cop-out, an easy way to pressure somebody into reducing without having to look anywhere near the reasons why you're on a script.

[froude]

Just got off the phone with the Manager of my Mental Health Team and they are also my D.S.P,as for the Government ,guidelines and what that key worker said to the misses yesterday in her appointment,it  is as everyone pointed out a load of bollocks.She said "the Key Worker has been dealt with and they are not doing anything of the sort in telling people that they have to detox in 14 weeks",she said if clients persist to  give positive piss tests they wil be put on a reducement and in fourteen weeks they will have come off their perscription(fair enough),my partners keyworker was told only to tell the people it concerned.He decided to tell every client he had yesterday whether or not he was supposed to(fucking idiot),thats how it came over to me.So it looks like we have a misguided Keyworker at my D.S.P,said to the manager that the misses came home in quite a state thinking she is getting her methadone reduced and then went into my problem with having a Social Worker with my past and I am uncomfortable seeing him ,with which she replied"you and the misses are staying on what your on ,she is not getting reduced and no one else is either unless they fall into the critrea that i have spoke about,I will get back to you with your new Key Worker after our  weekly meeting on Tuesday ,i said ok and she put the phone down.So it looks like ive opened my mouth a bit and the Key Worker opened his a bit and i have got further in my script today than me and the misses have in 3 years .All this down to a useless keyworker as usual,when will decent keyworkers  suss out the ones who are useless,why is it up to someone who is completely anxious,stressing and angry to put it to the manager that they have someone working for them who has his own agenda.All the best ,have a good weekend Froude

[simon]

So the chaotic people are going to be reduced and prescriptions stopped? They'll be 'cured' then.

[derek d j]

If they're cutting off urine test failures they've one misguided policy, wonder if they'll be reported as ''successful discharges''. Unusual a dsp worker would criticise another to 'clients'; some places, the offending key would probably earn a purple ribbon for his zeal.

[Jimmy]

So the chaotic people are going to be reduced and prescriptions stopped? They'll be 'cured' then.

.

Simon. I think most people on this site would love to have you as their keyworker. You obviously allow your clients to make their own decisions in their own best interests. You work according to the evidence-base and refuse to accept the concept of pressured reduction.

My question is: what differentiates you from the majority of substance misuse workers? You must, I assume, be under similar pressures. Is it a case of simply sticking to your guns and refusing to follow the crowd? or does your organization as a whole recognize the futility of pressuring clients to reduce? I am interested to know.

Cheers
Jimmy   

[OP8S]

Experience & a background of training in the field is all I imagine Simon has that other keys don't. Remember he is a Nurse, employeed by the NHS ( I've always assumed ? ) so really cannot be compared to a key.
I imagine that your scripts are safe froude, same goes with your misses. Why. Because you had the balls to question your key by means of going to the top of your DSP. I did the same with my GP who is also employed by the NHS & has no financial agenda in getting me to reduce. He had a word with my CDT & since then I have not been bothered by the question of reduction, too much. It is raised occassionaly by my key & they note down that I am staying on my daily dose. He's never raised any Government policy bullshit again, though appears a bit disgruntled by my desicion. Probably because I made the complaint, It seems to be that this new " Policy " is being aimed at a lot of people, when it is simply untrue. I have been amazed at the number of people in my area that believe it, & have started reductions on the back of it. The usual addict seems to think that their key tells no lies & does not question their experience simply because they want their script & out of there.
Only the people challenging these dodgy car-salesmen can be sure that their maintenance dose is safe, as you & your misses have done.
Popped along a mate the other day, 2months out of treatment. Was glad to see that he had stopped his everyday drinking off his own back. He's already been to the CDT saying that since his script stopped he'd been drinking 8 tins of super everyday. They gave him a book & sent him on his way!!? Instead he shared a couple of bags with me.
That's the tories idea of The Gold Standard of Care for drug dependants is it ?

[usandthem]

National Electronic Library of Medicines (NELM) UK Methadone trials Cochrane Library. A good read about maintenance treatment study. Link below

http://www.nelm.nhs.uk/en/NeLM-Area/Evidence/Drug-Specific-Reviews/Methadone-maintenance-therapy-versus-no-opioid-replacement-therapy-for-opioid-dependence/