This item provides a roundtable update from all partners on developments in relation to performance and emerging issues.
Minutes:
An update was provided by the Service Manager for Bromley Drug and Alcohol Service concerning an opioid reversal drug. The drug was called Naloxone.
(Note on Naloxone: Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan among others, is a medication used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids. It is used to counter decreased breathing in opioid overdose. Effects begin within two minutes when given intravenously, and within five minutes when injected into a muscle. The medicine can also be administered by spraying it into a person's nose. Emergency medical services data from Massachusetts found that 93.5% of people given naloxone survived their overdose.)
The Bromley Drug and Alcohol Service Manager said that she had sourced some information from the Mayor of London’s website that indicated that the police were not trained in the use of the drug, but that supplies were normally kept in police custody suites. Bromley Drug and Alcohol Service had not supplied this medication to the police (as far as the Service Manager was aware) and so the Service Manager was unclear where the police supplies would have originated from (if they had stocks in their custody suites). It had to be noted that the shelf life of the drug was two years, so existing stocks may need replacing.
The Bromley Drug and Alcohol Service Manager explained that the drug would keep someone alive for about 20 minutes, which would hopefully be enough time for the person to receive life saving medical intervention. If the overdose was not opioid related, then administration of the drug would not have any adverse effects.
The drug was also available in a nasal spray form called Nyxoid. The drug could not be provided to a stakeholder to provide to a service user, as the training would be diluted. Service users would need to approach BDAS directly. Training could be provided on the use of the injection from the age of 14, and from 8 for the nasal spray.
The Service Manager stated that the Mayor of London website recommended that the police stock a minimum of three injections for custody suites. She wanted to check if Bromley Police had supplies and also if they required training. The LBB Domestic Abuse Strategic Lead Officer, suggested that it would be helpful for the Service Manager from Bromley Drug and Alcohol Service to brief the ‘Operational Forum’ and she agreed to do so.
Superintendent Luke Baldock said that he would need to check the situation regarding police custody suites, as there was now a separate operational command for this area. The Service Manager for Bromley Drug and Alcohol Service agreed to provide the Board with a briefing concerning Naloxone, so that Board Members could use and disseminate this information as they deemed appropriate. Mr Sibun said that he would be happy to work with health colleagues to disseminate the information into the health care system. Fiona O Driscoll said that she would also be happy to do like-wise for Public Health. There was a discussion also as to how the information could be promoted to retail outlets, perhaps involving the BIDS.
It was agreed that a new constitution and TOR were required. These would be disseminated with the minutes and comments were welcomed.
A discussion took place regarding the matter of hotels that would be used by the Home Office to house refugees. Concern was expressed regarding the possible exploitation of vulnerable people and how partners would manage the situation. It was noted that Tracey Wilson from the LBB Housing Department was leading on this for the Council.
There was a possibility that nitrous oxide could be classified as a ‘class c’ drug.
Probation Services briefed the Partnership with respect to ‘CAS 3’ services which had been launched in London during the previous month. This was the Community Accommodation Services (Tier 3). This service was designed to provide accommodation for up to 84 nights for people that had been discharged from prison. The accommodation was provide by HAM (Housing Action Management). More details would be provided by the Probation Service in due course.
An update regarding the knife amnesty bins would be disseminated by the LBB Communications Team.
It was noted that a multi-agency event day was scheduled to take place at Langley Park School for Boys on 7th July. It was agreed that this information would be cascaded and the Chairman requested that this be actioned in a timely manner.
Trading Standards informed partners of a case that they had been involved with where a lady had been scammed to the value of £144k by a person that had befriended her via ‘Linked In’. With assistance from LBB Trading Standards 91% of the money had been refunded.
RESOLVED that the Service Manager for Bromley Drug and Alcohol Service would provide a briefing on Naloxone for the Board and that the Board would collaborate to disseminate and promote the knowledge of Naloxone to all relevant stakeholders.