To ask the Minister of Health to detail how he will improve addiction services available to people in East Londonderry.

The Department of Health leads on the Northern Ireland Executive's 10-year Substance Use Strategy ‘Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery’ a key priority of this strategy is to prevent and reduce the harm related to alcohol and other drugs through a range of cross-departmental actions and support.

In order to deliver the vision and outcomes of this Strategy officials within the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG), Department of Health, have worked with the Public Health Agency and a range of stakeholders, to co-produce a new Strategic Commissioning & Implementation Plan 2024-2028. This Plan has been subject to public consultation and will replace the current Alcohol & Drug Services Commissioning Framework. The Plan identifies clear strategic priority areas for improving services across the Region, for those impacted by substance use issues including families and carers. The Plan is due to be published in June 2024 and implementation of agreed priority actions will follow subject to funding.

Alongside the development of the Strategic Commissioning & Implementation Plan, a number of other related priority areas of work are being progressed, these include;

Population Based Needs Assessment relating to Substance Use in the Western Health & Social Care Trust Area, and,

Independent Review of Tier 4 Substance Use Services which includes, In-patient Tier 4 Detoxification & Residential Rehabilitation Services across Northern Ireland.

It is the intention that the recommendations from these areas of work along with the Strategic Commissioning & Implementation Plan, will support service improvement across the Region and help to inform and prioritise, future funding decisions relating to substance use. This work will be in alignment with the new Regional Mental Health Service, and Integrated Care System.

In addition, SPPG officials have been involved in supporting a collaborative proposal to the PEACEPLUS Programme to secure funding to deliver a Community Detoxification Project for those living in our border communities. It is anticipated that if successful, this project will build on and add value to existing services in the Western and Southern Health Trust areas.

The breadth of the work already completed as outlined is a clear indication of the Department of Health’s commitment to implementing the vision of the Substance Use Strategy.

The full delivery of the Strategy will be dependent on additional funding being made available going forward.