Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Communities, Mark Isherwood AM, has this afternoon expressed concern at the increase in deaths related to drug misuse and alcohol-specific deaths in Wales and called on the Welsh Government to address the need for ‘Tier 4’ residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Wales.
Speaking in the Assembly Debate on the Welsh Government’s ‘Substance Misuse Annual Report 2018’, Mr Isherwood said latest official ONS figures report that deaths related to drug misuse in Wales in 2015-17 were up 15% on the previous 2 years and 32% since the start of the Welsh Government’s ten year Substance Misuse Strategy in 2008.
He also highlighted that alcohol specific deaths in Wales were up 8% on the previous year, and that Public Health Wales also reports an increase in alcohol deaths of over 7% in 2017.
Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Isherwood moved Amendment 1, ‘regretting the increase in deaths related to drug misuse and alcohol-specific deaths in Wales’, and “calling on the Welsh Government to address the need for Tier 4 residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Wales”.
He also supported Amendments 2 and 3. (To add as new point at end of motion: ‘Notes the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report ‘Review of substance misuse services in Wales’ and calls on the Welsh Government to address the discrepancies between the official statistics on waiting times, and the variable experiences of people highlighted in this report’ and ‘Notes the long waits for counselling and relapse prevention services highlighted in the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report’).
He said:
“As the Health Inspectorate Wales Review states, “the availability of ‘Tier 4’ detox and rehab services was inconsistent across Wales … a number of areas do not have their own inpatient detox and/or rehab facilities. Depending on where people live, they may need to travel considerable distances for treatment in another area of Wales or in England”.
“During the second Assembly independent reports on ‘Tier 4’ residential detoxification and rehabilitation services in Wales were leaked to me after being buried by the Welsh Government. These found that the whole service was underfunded and identified numerous reports of people reoffending so they could be detoxed in prison, and of hospital admissions because of the unavailability of in-patient detoxification and residential rehabilitation.
“They called for a substantial increase in capacity and for the development of three drug and alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation units across Wales working with Third sector providers.
“A further report Commissioned by the Welsh Government in 2010 reinforced this - and the then Welsh “Government stated that it was taking forward work on development of three units at Brynawel, Ty’n Rodyn and Rhoserchan (with third sector partners). Rhoserchan and Ty’n Rodyn have since had to close and Brynawel states that its continued provision of these services is under threat.
“Having closed Ty’n Rodyn in Bangor, CAIS has made alternative provision in Lancashire and at Parkland Place in Colwyn Bay – which currently caters for individuals seeking quality residential rehabilitation and who have the means to pay for it personally.
“Welsh Government policy has therefore forced charitable providers in Wales into both the private sector and England”.
“These providers tell me that there is acknowledgement across the board that the ‘Tier 4’ residential rehabilitation framework did not deliver the anticipated benefits for commissioners and providers; that many authorities did not fully engage with the pathway, resulting in referrals to non-framework units, many outside Wales; and that they are not even sure the framework exists at the moment.
“Despite blood, sweat and tears over too many years, Welsh Government has returned us to Groundhog day once again.”
