Príomhoifigeach ECSP Ceantar 8 Chief Officer CHO Area 8 Baile Átha Cliath & Lár Laighin HSE Area Office, Oifig an Cheantair Arden Road Bóthar an Ardáin Tullamore An Tulach Mhór Co. Offaly Co Uíbh Fhailí

: 057 93 59787  : 057 93 59787 PRÍOMHOIFIGEACH ECSP CEANTAR 8 : 057 93 15855 : 057 93 15855 COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE ORGANISATION 8 : [email protected] : [email protected]

4th March, 2019

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd Dáil Eireann, House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

PQ ref 53247/18: To ask the Minister for Health when Methadone service users in County will be able to access Methadone prescriptions in the county as opposed to travelling to County Meath for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Dear Deputy O’Dowd,

The Health Service Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in the context of the above Parliamentary Question, which you submitted to the Minister for Health for response. I have examined the matter and outline the position as follows.

Louth clients can access the Methadone Maintenance Programme in , Blackrock and .

There is a HSE methadone clinic in Market Street Dundalk on a Monday. The HSE Doctor, Clinical Nurse Manager II, General Assistant and Outreach Workers work in the clinic. There are 42 clients attending the clinic.

Level 1 General Practitioners can treat clients that are stabilised on the Methadone Treatment in a primary care setting.

Level 2 General Practitioners are trained to provide a comprehensive assessment, initiation of methadone treatment, stabilisation, and maintenance of OST treatment and or detox of an opioid dependent in a primary care setting.

Details one the level 1 and level 2 GP’s in Co. Louth can be provided with further details at your request

There are 4 pharmacies in Adree, 1 in Blackrock, 1 in Clogherhead that dispense methadone in . There are a total of 219 clients attending pharmacies in Co Louth for methadone.

HSE Addiction Services premises on the Donore Road, Drogheda will be opening in the second quarter of 2019. Clients will then be able to access the HSE Maintenance Programme in Drogheda, Co. Louth. The HSE methadone clinic will operate on a Wednesday the HSE Doctor, Clinical Nurse Manager II, General Assistant and Outreach Worker work in the clinic. A date for staff to move into the new premises is being finalised at present.

In Co Meath there is a HSE methadone clinic in Railway Street Navan on a Tuesday. The HSE Doctor, Clinical Nurse Manager II, General Assistant work in the clinic on Tuesday. There are 39 clients attending the clinic

.

There are three level 1 GP in Co. Meath and there are three level 2 GP’s in Co Meath. There are two level 1 GP’s in Dundalk and two level 2 GP’s in Dundalk. In Drogheda there are one level 1 and one level 2 GP’s.

There are five methadone dispensing pharmacies in Navan. There are four methadone dispensing pharmacies in each of the following locations Ashbourne, Trim and Kells. Two pharmacies in Raloath that dispense methadone. There is on methadone dispensing pharmacy in each of the following locations, Bettystown, Clonee, Duleek, Dunshauglin, Enfield, Ballivor and Dunboyne .There are a total of 133 clients attending pharmacies in Co Meath for methadone.

I trust the above is in order but please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further queries in this regard.

Yours sincerely,

______Pat Bennett Chief Officer Midlands Louth Meath Community Health Organisation