National Forum on Drug-Related Deaths in Scotland - Annual Report 2011/12

ANNEX A

Summary of Expert Presentations at Forum meetings

Throughout the year, the Forum invited guest speakers who could provide information, reflect upon and stimulate discussion on key issues. The following is a list of presentations received and a brief outline.

On 24 August 2011, Dr Malcolm Bruce, Consultant Psychiatrist in Addiction, NHS Lothian delivered a presentation on alcohol and drug-related deaths.

Also on 24 August Elaine Park from the National Prisoner Healthcare Programme Team in the Scottish Government delivered a presentation on the National Programme for Prisoner Healthcare which included an overview of the transfer of responsibility of healthcare from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to the NHS on 1 November 2011.

On 16 November 2011 Elaine Lawlor from NHS Forth Valley delivered a presentation on Forth Valley's Narcan Referral Project. This looked at an innovative Forth Valley programme where details of people who received naloxone from the ambulance service were passed to treatment services to improve the care of those in treatment and allow outreach work to those who were not.

Also on 16 November Robin Lawrenson from the Scottish Ambulance Service delivered a presentation on the Scottish Ambulance Service Information Sharing with Alcohol and Drug Partnerships.

Also on 16 November Mary Clare Madden, Addiction Pharmacist at Glasgow Addiction Service delivered a presentation on "Route Transition Interventions - The Foil Pilot" which focused on drug administration, route transition interventions, the legal and health implications surrounding the provision of foil, the Glasgow Addiction Services Foil Pilot and current evidence from the Netherlands, Sheffield and Somerset who are currently providing foil to their service users.

On 22 February 2012 Dr Colin Ramsay, Consultant Epidemiologist from Health Protection Scotland delivered a presentation on the Anthrax Report published by the Outbreak Control Team.

Also on 22 February Dr Richard Watson from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde delivered a presentation on the effects of methadone and buprenorphine on mortality which focused on the nature of opioid dependence as a chronic relapsing condition and the differing goals and challenges of opioid maintenance and detoxification.

On 22 August 2012, Dr Barbara Broers from the University of Geneva delivered a presentation on the medical complications of drug use and the value of managing this aspect of drug problems with standard drug treatments. Dr Broers presentation focused on two areas; the history, outcomes, facilitating and limiting factors and future directions of the Swiss 4 pillars drug policy and the clinical and organisational aspects relating to older drug users in Switzerland.

On 14 November 2012 Sir Ian Gilmore from the University of Liverpool delivered a presentation on the medical complications of drug and alcohol use.

Also on 14 November Professor Avril Taylor from the University of the West of Scotland delivered a presentation on the findings of the report published in November 2012 on Hepatitis C Prevalence and Incidence among Scottish Prisoners and Staff Views of its Management. The report is based on findings following a voluntary and anonymous survey carried out in Scotland's 14 closed prisons between June 2010 and March 2011.