The shared care programme at Montpelier Health Centre was set up in 2004.
Shared care workers from Bristol Drugs Project are employed to support GPs with the assessment and ongoing management and care of opiate dependent patients.
After a full needs and risk assessment has been undertaken, substitute medication prescriptions in the form of Methadone or Subutex may be offered to patients to give them the opportunity of reducing drug related harm, reducing illicit drug use, to achieve stability whilst on prescription and, in the long term, abstinence from illicit substances.
Shared care offers opiate dependent patients the opportunity to receive support through a non-judgemental service.
For more information visit www.bdp.org.uk.