'A horrendous misuse of precious resources' — answers demanded on drug addict's 1000 out-of-hours treatments
Claims that emergency out-of-hours doctors have treated a Perthshire drug addict 1000 times must be investigated at government level, according to local MSPs.
- By Alan Richardson
- Published in the Courier : 26.09.11
- Published online : 26.09.11 @ 09.01am
Labour health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson demanded answers from Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon after The Courier broke the story on Saturday. He also called for an explanation from NHS Tayside.
Dr Simpson was joined in urging a probe by fellow Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP and Tory health spokesman Murdo Fraser, who said the time and resources of medical staff were better directed elsewhere.
The Courier revealed on Saturday how the unnamed addict had received 1000 home visits, costing the taxpayer an estimated £100,000.
It is thought the male addict has been visited by an emergency GP almost every day in the last three years to deal with his cravings.
Each visit cost an estimated £100 and tied up the out-of-hours response vehicle for around an hour.
A whistleblower contacted The Courier concerned about the "complete failure" of managers to deal with the problem, with some doctors now refusing to attend the patient's nighttime call-outs.
The Scottish Government refused to become embroiled in the row, saying it would "not be appropriate for ministers to deal with clinical decision making."
But Dr Simpson said: "The NHS should give us an explanation and the health minister should look at the case. I've never heard of anyone receiving this level of 'emergency care'. It's astonishing."
Mr Fraser said: "It is truly shocking that one individual has abused the out-of-hours service to this extent. This is a horrendous misuse of precious resources which could be much better spent elsewhere.
Demands
''An individual with these needs and making these demands on the service clearly requires to be helped by the NHS in other ways, for example in a residential environment.
''This individual's case needs to be reviewed as a matter of urgency.''
Pete Wishart MP said: ''I don't wish to comment in depth without knowing the full details or background to this case, but it does appear as though one individual is abusing a system that is there to serve us all.
''I hope that NHS Tayside are looking very closely indeed at the situation. ''
The whistleblower told The Courier: ''Every night there is a phone call. Every night someone goes and gives him an injection of controlled drugs.
''Certain people have refused to have anything to do with it on the grounds it is not pain he is dealing with, it is addiction. There has been a total failure or refusal to do something about it.''
The Scotland Patients Association has called for an end to the ''abuse'' of the out-of-hours system, describing the level of calls as ''obscene''.
NHS Tayside has declined to comment due to patient confidentiality.
10.53am - 26.09.2011 birsealmighty - Dundee, Scotland Report This
What is 'horrendous' is the layers of staff members who are involved in this process, many who unfortunately talk more than they listen. If they would listen properly, they would find many people at the ground level willing to help and offer good advice, including ordinary members of the public.
11.47am - 26.09.2011 D - dundee, scotland Report This
Why has NHS Tayside relied on out of hours to provide the service that this individual obviously needs rather than use NHS Tayside staff and resources. An addict needing that level of care is not abusing the the system but being neglected by the system that should be helping them.
05.14pm - 26.09.2011 Munro - Fife, Scotland Report This
What this guy needed was to go to a proper drug addiction clinic. One where he could stay for a few weeks and get better properly. 'Private healthcare' is such a dirty term to Sturgeon but look how the public-run NHS wastes its budget - and the taxpayers' money!!
06.55pm - 26.09.2011 Concerned for NHS24 - Dundee, UK Report This
This sickens me so much and to see people defending this person calling out of hours or nhs 24 every night obviously haven't had to sit and beg to be seen with a genuine health concern. Another thing that addicts do is walk into out of hours premises without even calling in seen it happen recently
08.07pm - 26.09.2011 Mary McDonald - Dundee, UK Report This
Home visits should only be done to Nursing Homes and frail elderly HOUSEBOUND patients only!! Not only from the Out of Hours services but also GPs and Nurses during the daytime. Everyone else should have to pay...this is an old fashioned style of medicine and is costing the NHS millions!!
10.19pm - 26.09.2011 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
The guy is an addict. Of course he is going to "call" for another "hit" every night. That it hasn't been dealt with before now is ridiculous. However, it is nuts to claim the Scot govt needs to get involved. You can't moan about supposed micro-managing on one hand, and then demand it with the other.
04.09am - 27.09.2011 birselessmighty - St Andrews, Scotland Report This
I am intrigued by the wording of birsealmighty's comment. Rather obliquely phrased. Does he or she know something we don't?
07.35am - 27.09.2011 mark - dundee, scotland Report This
Why should he get any care, how much tax /NI has he paid. Spend the money on someone who has an illness not an addiction
08.34am - 27.09.2011 LM - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Hope the whistleblower is outed. This patient clearly has quite complex needs, that are not being adequately met. If sufficent care is lacking, they have every right to request more support-I`d say the NHS are the ones being abusive, not the patient as the SPA allege.
08.35am - 27.09.2011 Realist - Dundee, Scotland Report This
I am dismayed with the comments surrounding this story, particularly from Munro, the problem with those who choose to abuse drugs, do so through choice, and no matter how long is spent in a clinic, they will only suceed if they wish to do so, in this case, yet again, taxpayers money is being wasted!
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