New purpose-built harm reduction service for Middleton opens
As part of an exciting new partnership development between Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Substance Misuse Service in Rochdale, and Rochdale Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), a new purpose-built needle exchange and harm reduction service will be opening alongside Brentwood Day Centre on Long Street, Middleton. Mr. Mansoor Shah, Non-Executive Director, from Pennine Care, will perform the formal opening ceremony on Tuesday 9th September at 2.30 pm.
The new service has been developed by a small but dedicated team of substance misuse and community workers previously based within Brentwood Day Centre.
Sue Duffy, Senior Middleton Worker at Rochdale Substance Misuse Service said, “Historically, Middleton residents have found it difficult to travel to Rochdale to use services, and we therefore work closely with staff at Brentwood Day Centre to ensure that clients are able to access as many services as possible either via the Day Centre or locally.
“The client group attending Brentwood are often those with the most complex needs and can present in crisis. They include people with acute and enduring mental health problems, substance misuse issues and those who are homeless. Day Centre Manager, John Crosby, and his small staff team work intensively with people in an attempt to bring a level of stability to their lives. In addition a service user advocate is also available to offer support.”
Rochdale Substance Misuse Teams’ ethos is that of harm reduction - an approach which impacts on both service-user and community safety. Although a very basic needle exchange service has operated from Brentwood for several years, it was realised that Middleton would also benefit from a dedicated Needle Exchange and Harm Reduction Unit based on the successful Rochdale model.
Suzanne Gilman from the Rochdale DAAT and Joe Preshur, Pennine Care’s Security Manager were immensely supportive, and as a result of their commitment to the project, the funding for the unit was agreed.
Services offered by the Harm Reduction Unit will include:
- Access to clean injecting equipment
- Provision of sharps bins and a returns service for used injecting equipment
- Access to treatment
- Specialist advice on harm reduction
- Pre- and post-test counselling for Hepatitis C (with the aim of encouraging as many people as possible to be tested)
- Referral to the Hepatitis C Clinic at North Manchester General Hospital for support and advice for those offered treatment for Hepatitis C
- Pregnancy testing, contraception advice, including pregnancy testing
- Advice for steroid users
The unit will be named after Pat Holdsworth – who was a well-known figure in the local community, and who was instrumental in establishing the first needle exchange at Brentwood. Pat worked at Brentwood Day Centre for many years and was spreading the harm reduction message long before it was embraced by drug services.
We look forward to delivering a first class service from this facility and
would like to express our gratitude to all those who supported its development.
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