Page last updated: 18-DEC-2007

Drug Misuse Waiting Times


Statistical Publication Notice

18 December 2007

Drug Treatment Waiting Times Information Framework Report July to September 2007  link opens in a new window

NB This link leads to a site which will not be updated until Tuesday 18 Dec 09:30

INTRODUCTION

This publication presents data from the Drug Treatment Waiting Times Information Framework. It includes details on the number of clients waiting and the time waited for (1) clients to be offered an assessment date and (2) clients to be offered an appointment date for any intervention.

KEY POINTS

Time from referral to assessment date offered
  • In Jul-Sep 2007, 67% (4,580 clients) of those offered an appointment for assessment were offered a date within 14 days of referral (Table 1).
  • Of those who were still waiting for an appointment for assessment, 25% (731 clients) had waited more than 52 weeks by the end of September 2007 (Table 1).
Time waited for any intervention
  • In Jul-Sep 2007, 90% (3,209 clients) of those offered an appointment for treatment were offered a date within 14 days of date care plan agreed. (Table 2)
  • Of those who were still waiting for a treatment appointment at the end of the reporting period, 35% (375 clients) had waited more than 52 weeks. (Table 2)

INTERPRETATION

Due to the reorganisation of Argyll & Clyde ADAT, ISD now receives data for (1) Argyll & Bute  (2) Greater Glasgow & Clyde (excluding Glasgow City) and (3) Glasgow City. This publication presents data for each of these areas for July - September 07. Information for Argyll & Clyde and Greater Glasgow ADATs are no longer received by ISD.
 
It is important to be aware that there are some data quality issues that may impact on analysis - caution is therefore recommended when interpreting tables.
 
The number of services submitting data varies significantly from area to area and within areas across the data collection period (see Table 5).
 
It should also be noted that there is a wide range of demand for substance misuse services across Scotland, and to meet this demand, an equally variable set of practices across the country. In some ADAT areas, the impact of a single specialized service – for example, a crisis management centre – may dramatically alter the distribution of waiting times. Consequently, to compare data across ADATs is potentially inappropriate.
 
Finally, the tables include small numbers for some ADATs; caution is therefore recommended when interpreting differences in percentages.
 
ISD only receive aggregate data from each of the ADAT's and it is therefore not possible for us to validate the data. Detailed questions regarding local data should be addressed to the relevant ADAT.

DETAILED FINDINGS

Time from referral to assessment date offered
 
  • Of those clients who were still waiting for an assessment appointment at the end of the reporting period, the largest number of clients, who had to wait over 26 weeks, were in Aberdeen City (596 clients, 78%)(Tables 1 & 3, and Chart 1b).
Time waited for any intervention
 
  • Over half the clients in Aberdeen City (35 clients, 92%), Perth & Kinross (6 clients, 86%), Aberdeenshire* (13 clients, 76%), Edinburgh City* (89 clients, 76%), Fife* (40 clients, 73%), Glasgow City* (123 clients, 68%), Dundee City (22 clients, 61%), Midlothian (35 clients, 61%), East Lothian* (58 clients, 54%), West Lothian (79 clients, 54%) waited more than 26 weeks for a treatment appointment and were still waiting by the end of the reporting period. (Table 2 & 4, and Chart 2b).
* Based on partial data submissions.


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MAIN CONTACTS:

Elaine Parry
Senior Information Officer
Tel: 0131 275 6655
Email: Elaine.Parry@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

Steve Pavis
Assistant Head of Group
Tel: 0131 275 6670
Email: Stephen.Pavis@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk

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GLOSSARY:

The interventions include:
  1. structured preparatory & motivation intervention  - planned intervention that stabilises the client or prepares them for further interventions.  It must be structured and have agreed goal(s).
  2. prescribed drug treatment -  the prescribing of a substitute drug, (e.g. methadone, lofexidine, subutex) for facilitating the complete cessation of the use of illicit drugs, controlling withdrawal symptoms or reducing illicit drug use.
  3. community support/rehabilitation -  Interventions that have the purpose of tackling the social and psychological problems faced by the client (such as debt / benefit / relationship and family problems, relapse prevention or employability and training issues) e.g. structured day programmes, counselling, group work.
  4. residential detoxification/rehabilitation - detoxification and/or rehabilitation that involves the client being admitted to a residential facility or hospital.
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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

This is not a national statistics publication. However a preview is sent to:
ASD: David Signorini, Donna MacKinnon, Nadiya Choudhry & Nicola Edge
Policy: Carole Ross, Dawn Abell & Karen McGuigan
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published:  25 September 2007
Next Due:  25 March 2008
Data Avaliable Since: First Published Data for April - September 2004


Main contact: Email Elaine Parry