Services Database Community Pharmacy Based Needle Exchange (Stockton-on Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland Area)

The Community Pharmacy Based Needle Exchange will allow the:

• provision of sterile needles, syringes and associated materials to drug misusers;
• receiving of used needles, syringes and associated materials from drug misusers; and
• provision of appropriate advice to drug misusers and where appropriate advising on how to access another health care professional, or a specialist drug treatment provider or harm minimisation provider.

The pharmacy provider will ensure that pharmacists and staff involved in the provision of the service have relevant knowledge* and are appropriately trained in the operation of the service. Additionally, that they are aware of and operate within local protocols including the maintenance of required documentation including the use of PharmOutcomes as required.

* Should be able to provide advice as a minimum on; storage, handling and safe disposal of injecting equipment ,safer injecting practices (risks of sharing or lending and borrowing injecting equipment , filters, spoons and water) and advice specific to the drug injected (including stimulant injecting, injecting of steroids etc).