Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 52
52
Rejected
Paragraph: 185
Provide centralised funding to support Diamorphine Assisted Treatment, urgently re-establishing Middlesbrough's programme.
Recommendation
We repeat the ACMD’s 2016 recommendation that the Government provide centralised funding to support the provision of DAT for people with a chronic heroin dependency for whom other forms of OST have not been successful. The centralised funding should first be provided to Foundations Medical Practice in order to re-establish its DAT programme in Middlesbrough as a matter of urgency. The Government should then work with local authorities to identify other locations in England where a DAT programme supported by holistic and wrap-around care is needed.
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation for centralised funding for DAT, reiterating that local authorities are responsible for commissioning and funding these interventions based on local needs.
Paragraph Reference:
185
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government does not accept this recommendation. Diamorphine Assisted Treatment is a clinical guideline-supported intervention and, as referenced in the Government’s response to the ACMD report in 2016, local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug treatment interventions and it is for them to decide whether or not to fund the treatment, depending on local need and priorities. Regarding the Diamorphine Assisted Treatment Programme closure in Middlesbrough, it was a local funding decision made by the local authority to not extend the pilot of this programme.