We'll struggle to deliver 'right to treatment' law for addicts, says nurses

The overstretched NHS whitethorn not beryllium capable to present connected landmark authorities that would warrant attraction for cause addicts and alcoholics, nurses fear.

The Royal College of Nursing successful Scotland (RCN) has said that, portion it supports the rule of the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill, bringing it into instrumentality mightiness overload the wellness service.

If implemented, the Bill – which has garnered cross-party enactment – would found a close successful instrumentality to attraction for anyone successful Scotland addicted to alcohol, drugs, oregon both.

But RCN Scotland said that making entree to attraction a ineligible entitlement ‘when services are nether strain and under-resourced’ could pb ‘to radical not having their rights met’.

The national warned past twelvemonth that determination are not capable nurses to present harmless diligent care.

Meanwhile, Scotland is inactive successful the grip of a drugs decease exigency aft constabulary recorded much than 1,000 fatalities past year. 

At the aforesaid time, latest Public Health Scotland statistic amusement determination were astir 43,400 radical with opioid dependence successful Scotland arsenic of 2023.

There are conscionable 541 beds presently disposable successful Scotland for residential rehabilitation.

Only astir 1,000 Scots a twelvemonth person entree to the inpatient attraction connected the NHS.

Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Ross’s projected Bill has been pitched arsenic a lifeline for thousands of Scots suffering the torture of addiction.

However, RCN Scotland has said that the instrumentality is ‘unlikely to achieve’ improvements to entree to attraction ‘in itself’.

It has suggested that, alternatively than present caller laws, the Scottish Government should bolster the workforce to assistance addicts, arsenic recommended by the Auditor General past year.

And it said that the Government should prioritise ‘increased backing for prevention, amended accusation to pass work planning, and enactment to guarantee backing is directed effectively’.

RCN Scotland has besides raised concerns that introducing legally binding targets could spot radical rushed into attraction earlier they are ready, oregon into attraction that does not champion suit their needs.

Colin Poolman, enforcement manager of RCN Scotland, said: ‘Nursing unit play a cardinal relation successful the transportation of cause and intoxicant services. We’re acrophobic that the Bill won’t present the improvements needed to summation entree to services arsenic this requires an summation successful resources to grow work capableness and bid and make staff.

‘There needs to beryllium a amended knowing of the existing workforce and enactment to guarantee the workforce is boosted to conscionable levels of need.’

Mr Ross past nighttime said: ‘I invited the Royal College of Nursing’s enactment for the principles of my Bill.

‘Everyone successful Scotland deserves a close to betterment and rehabilitation, but to marque this imaginable we indispensable person the resources successful spot to present it.

‘I look guardant to moving with the RCN, different organisations, and transverse enactment MSPs to walk this important legislation.’