Meeting documents

Waiting Time monitoring

Modality

NTA March 2004 target

Longest wait

Average wait

Longest wait

Average wait

Longest wait

Average wait

April

May

June

Inpatient Treatment

2 weeks

1

1

1

1

0

0

Residential Rehab

3 weeks

9

9

10

8

6

3

Specialist prescribing

3 weeks

6

4.2

9

4

6

3

GP Prescribing

2 weeks

8

3

2

1

2

1

Structured Day Care

3 weeks

2

1

2.2

2

1

0.2

Structured Counselling

2 weeks

6

4.2

9

4

6

3

comments

Initially providers took a while to get used to the reporting mechanisms and the new first point of contact for Triage and referral and so numbers were down, but only because the data had not been processed. We should also be aware that these numbers represent those engaged with structured treatment or who have received a triage and so there are many more clients engaged with Tier 2 Open Access interventions that are not recorded here. Individuals presenting for drug misuse treatment: the blip in May represents the delay in data being processed and the inevitable hoarding of clients whist awaiting the re-commissioned services starting but the average number presenting for treatment is about 100 which puts us on target for the LDP figure. However, these figures may not be sustainable as capacity within treatment is reached.

Individuals successfully completing drug misuse treatment: again the May blip is accounted for by the delay in processing data. An average of 25 - 30 service users per month successfully completing treatment can be expected. It should be noted that a successful completion is any planned departure from service and this includes a transfer to other services. BADAS are showing nil successful completions and this is because many of their interventions are not included but mainly because they calculate the data on a quarterly basis and heve yet to complete the task. Additionally, the numbers unsuccessfully completing treatment match or exceed the numbers quoted here and work is still needed to retain service users effectively within treatment services.

Individuals in drug misuse treatment on the last day of the month: numbers show a steady increase month on month although DHI note a decline in referrals from the triage service and this needs to be investigated. Groupwork, offered in Tier 2 and an increase in Criminal Justice clients, intended mainly to prepare clients for Tier 3 services has to some extent supplanted referrals to the Structured Day Services.

Waiting Times Waiting times have shown a marked improvement over the Quarter and the NTA has commented on this. To note in particular - Residential Rehabilitation has assessed the way it operates and now counts the wait from the point at which the client is ready to access the service. this more accurately reflects the true wait as the client will be accessing other services during this period and their motivation is unlikey to be appropriate for rehab. Structured Counselling and Specialist Prescribing were linked modalities and so had the same waiting times. They are now treated as separate modalities and over time will show differences as more clients are engaged with Structured Counselling on its own. This will be particularly relevant when alcohol only clients are counted.