Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 54
54
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 192
Ensure needle and syringe programmes reach wider populations to prevent blood-borne virus transmission.
Conclusion
We are concerned by the effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the provision of needle and syringe programmes. The UK must continue its efforts in preventing the spread of blood-borne viruses by ensuring needle and syringe programmes reach as wide a population as possible.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government partially accepted, stating that existing programs already support blood-borne virus prevention and mentioning new funding via the SSMTR Grant (£1.3m) and a UKHSA pilot for data collection.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
192
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted in Part
The Combating Drugs Minister must work with the Department of Health and Social Care, the devolved administrations, and health partners to ensure that the provision of equipment—particularly low dead space syringes and safe water—is increased to reduce the transmission of blood-borne viruses and other illnesses. The Combating Drugs Minister must work to ensure that needle and syringe programme providers have the capability and capacity to provide additional services to people presenting to the service, such as blood-borne virus testing.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗