Drug users wait a year to be assessed

Published on Tuesday 30 June 2009 21:51

DRUG users are being forced to wait for a year before they are assessed for treatment, figures showed yesterday.

About 22 per cent of 2,675 drug users were still waiting after 52 weeks by the end of March this year.

The quarterly NHS figures also showed year-long waits for appointments for residential rehabilitation, community-based support, first interventions and prescribed drug treatments.

Community safety minister Fergus Ewing said funding had increased by 13.5 per cent to try to reduce waiting times.

"It's important to individuals, to their families and to communities more broadly that those who will benefit from treatment and support don't have to wait months to access it," the minister said.

"That's why we are working closely with our partners to reduce waiting times for services and why we have, for the first time ever, a target to make sure the NHS reduces waiting times for drugs services.

"I believe we are on the road to driving down waiting times and helping more people recover from misusing drugs."