Tony Gregory
Ceist:564 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the number on the waiting list for each of the drug treatment centres in the Dublin area. [1595/99]
Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.
The following table gives the number on the waiting list for each of the drug treatment centres in the Dublin areas in December 1998.
|
Name of Treatment Centre |
Nos. on Waiting List |
|
Aisling Clinic, Ballyfermot |
29 |
|
Baggot Street Clinic |
36 |
|
City Clinic, Amiens Street |
39 |
|
Domville House, Ballymun |
115 |
|
Fortune House |
42 |
|
Castle Street |
30 |
|
Patrick Street Clinic, Dún Laoghaire |
4 |
|
Trinity Court (Drug Treatment Centre) |
131 |
|
Trinity Court (Eastern Health Board Services) |
191 |
|
Total |
617 |
The number of persons on the waiting list for treatment has fluctuated in the past number of months arising from the implementation of the Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) Regulations, 1998, which imposed strict controls over the prescribing and dispensing of methadone. As a consequence, a large number of patients who were being treated by general practitioners have had to be accommodated at treatment centres around the Dublin area. In addition, because of the increased availability of treatment locations, which now number 42, the demand for treatment has increased, causing an increase in the waiting list. This increasing demand undoubtedly arises from the greater availability of drug treatment services and in this connection, it is worth noting that the number of patients on the central methadone treatment list now stands at 3,600, which is the highest number ever on the list.