Shared care for treatment of opioid dependence and the new General Medical Services contract

Anna Marie Felice, Christos Kouimtsidis
2008 Psychiatric bulletin of the Royal College of Psychiatrists  
Aims and Methods An audit of clients in specialist and shared care services was undertaken in 2003 and in 2005 to investigate the capacity, quality of prescribed medication and profile of clients, and to assess the impact of the new General Medical Services contract on drug misuse treatment. Results Capacity in specialist services increased by 55% from 2003 to 2005, but not in shared care, and type and dosage of prescribed medication improved for shared care. Profile of clients suggests that
more » ... ble clients are treated within shared care. Clinical Implications Attention should be given in training general practitioners to provide shared care treatment, increasing the number of clients accepted in shared care, and considering new treatment models.
doi:10.1192/pb.bp.107.015503 fatcat:ua6vetxd3bbyvnx6qay73e3jju