Robert Brown demands explanation for empty beds at leading alcohol treatment unit

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Sep 2009

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has called on the Scottish Government and local Health Boards to act to make sure that the fullest use is made of scarce beds in drug and alcohol addiction treatment centres.

Mr. Brown's call comes after a visit this week to Castle Craig Hospital in Peeblesshire, one of Europe's top rehabilitation centres, where he heard concerned senior staff that occupancy rates were only at 70% due to a lack of take up by public agencies like the NHS.

The call also comes as it was revealed today that alcohol related deaths in Glasgow Rutherglen constituency were 238% of the national average.

Castle Craig Hospital is registered with the Scottish Care Commission and provides residential and follow up care, both for an initial first stage detox, and extended care referrals.

In previous years, NHS Lanarkshire had sent as many as 97 people (2002) to the addiction facility, but the figures for 2008 show only 19 people from Lanarkshire were sent to Castle Craig for recovery, and only 13 this year so far.

Yet the recent Scottish Alcohol Needs Assessment report highlighted that the majority of 'in need' population are not able to access specialist treatment - figures show that only 8% of those who need help for alcohol addiction are able to access help in Scotland.

Based on the most recent Scottish Health Survey and the Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, approximately 1,172,200 people in Scotland are drinking at hazardous/harmful levels (27.9% of population aged 16 and above) and approximately 206,000 people are alcohol dependent (4.9% of population aged 16 and above).

With 206,000 people "in need" of treatment, Mr. Brown is demanding to know why the NHS is using Castle Craig less and less, and why this state of the art facility is running under capacity.

In a letter to Mr Brown, the Chief Executive of Castle Craig outlined that for every £1 spent on treatment for alcohol addiction, £9.50 is saved.

The objective at Castle Craig is abstinence, and a recent study showed that the residential method is three times more effective than the next best treatment for addiction.

Robert Brown said:

"Scotland's problems with drugs and alcohol are well known. It is absolutely vital that those in need of help and treatment can access appropriate treatment quickly.

"We know that only one in twelve people with alcohol dependence got treatment in 2006 and 2007. Experts also tell us that for every £1 spent on treatment, £9.50 is saved.

"Failing to provide treatment for people with drug and alcohol problems doesn't save money, it will eventually cost the taxpayer even more.

"There are very few residential rehabilitation facilities in Scotland, particularly for alcohol. Failure to make proper use of the facilities we have is ludicrous, particularly now we know that there are empty beds at one of the country's specialist care facilities.

"The very same day I visited Castle Craig, a leading expert, Professor Neil McKeganey of Glasgow University, commented that residential rehabilitation was the most effective.

"In Rutherglen, the rate of alcohol related death is 238% of the national average. It is shameful that a facility like Castle Craig is going to waste when there are so many people out there in need of access to a specialist facility. NHS Lanarkshire needs to explain why their use of Castle Craig has dropped so dramatically from 97 referrals in a year, to only 20.

"The Scottish Government and the Health Boards have to answer as to why when we have the facilities and the great need, so many patients are missing out on treatment."

Ends.