Needle Exchange Service
In Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster the Needle Exchange Service is one of Public Health England’s Needle and syringe programmes (NSPs). The service provides drug users access to clean & sterile needles, syringes and other equipment as well as the safe disposal of used needles and syringes.
The service is centred around the promotion of better health protection for intravenous drug users and to reduce the risk of passing on infections to others such as HIV, AIDs & Hepatitis to mention a few from needle stick injury and sharing of needles. However, needle exchange is not just for people who inject drugs but also for those who use steroids or other performance or image enhancing drugs (PIEDs), Psychoactive compounds, chemicals, plants and Methamphetamine, Ketamine or other medicines.
Service At Pharamcy Level
There are Project based needle exchange staff at centres around central London who provide advice & information on issues related to these substances. They are their to support users of injectables weather its advise on avoiding drug use to safe practise of using needles through to provision of safe equipment.
Certain Pharmacies in KCW are doing there bit by providing the Needle Exchange Service and are approved centres where users can come and pick up sterile syringe packs and also accept used needles and syringes for safe disposal.
Pharmacies hand out equipment in colour coded ready prepared packs that contain different equipment that the user may require to safely inject.
Summery of Pack Contents;
RED 1ML PACK
20 x INSULIN NEEDLES/SYRINGES
20 x SWABS
20 x VIT C SACHETS
20 x STERILE SPOONS
1 x SHARPS BIN
YELLOW 1ML PACK
20 x 1 ML BARRELS (YELLOW)
20 x LONG ORANGE NEEDLES
20 x SWABS
20 x VIT C SACHETS
20 x STERILE SPOONS
1 x SHARPS BIN
BLUE 2ML PACK
20 x 2ML BARRELS
20 x LONG BLUE (1 ¼”) NEEDLES
20 x SWABS
20 x VIT C SACHETS
20 x STERILE SPOONS
1 x SHARPS BIN
GREEN 1ML NEVER SHARE PACK
20 x 1ML NEVER SHARE NEEDLES & SYRINGES (GREEN)
20 x SWABS
20 x VIT C SACHETS
20 x STERILE SPOONS
1 x SHARPS BIN
STEROID PACK
20 X 2ML BARRELS
20 X LONG BLUE (1 ¼ “) NEEDLES
20 X GREEN (1 ½ “) NEEDLES
20 X SWABS
1 X SHARPS BIN
Click on the below link for a detailed information on how to give out packs to service users.
Step By Step Guidance On Needle Exchange Service
Payment Details of the Service
From 1st of March 2016, Turning Point/ Blenheim will be taking over as the local substance misuse prescribing agency for Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster. As the new agency they will be liable for the costs for the current Needle Exchange and Supervised Consumption contracts from 1st March 2014 until the end of the contract in 2018.
Turning Point will also be responsible for the liaison with pharmacist in relation to supervised consumption in line with clinical guidelines and agreed protocols as well as liaison with primary care services regarding the training and joint working with pharmacists.
The process of uploading activity on SONAR will still be continued, however the invoices generated by SONAR at the end of each month will be picked up automatically by Turning Point and will be process according. Hence its important that all activity must be logged into SONAR or payments will not be made. There is no need now to print the invoices off and post them to an address.
It is important that Turning Point have all your correct details and its vital that all providers of the service are registered with them, please see the information below.
Supplier Registration with Turning Point
Registration with Turning Point as a supplier is simple. The process is completed on-line via their Precurment System Portal.
Start by clicking on the link below;
- Click “Register” displayed under ‘Create your supplier account’
- Please Complete all information fields
- On the 1st Tab “Trading Region” under “Company trading with” please select turning Point from the drop down menu. Please do not select any other options.
- On the 2nd Tab “Company Details” under “who is your Turning Point contact” please put as follows: lynn.whitehorn@turning-point.co.uk and do not enter any other contact details otherwise it will not let you progress forward.
- On the 3rd Tab “User Details” under password, you must enter a password which must be 8 characters long with 2 letters & 2 numbers.
- On the 5th Tab under “Confirm & Submit” at the bottom of the page please insure you accept both the Web3 Access Terms & Trading Terms and Conditions.
Once registered you should receive a confirmation email with regards to logging on the portal.
Any problems with portal registration or use please contact email; procurementhelpdesk@turning-point.co.uk or tel; 01612385190
Safer Injecting Advice:
To avoid the health risks associated with taking drugs, it is safer not to inject or to use alternative methods of taking drugs. However, some people are not in this position so the following advice is important
- We strongly advise all injectors to seek professional advice throughout the time you are injecting.
- In-depth safer injecting and harm reduction information and advice is available from all project based sites (See site list)
- Wash your hands before preparing works.
- Always use a new, sterile needle and equipment.
- Never share any equipment or works.
- Find a hygienic area to prepare.
- Cleanse the part of your body where you are going to inject.
For any issues with regards to Needle Exchange and Supervised Consumption service contact Turning Point on email: threeboroughadmin@turning-point.co.uk or Tel; 0207512955 or Fax; 02072878515
