2 Who should take action?

Introduction

The guidance is for directors of public health, commissioners and providers of needle and syringe programmes and related services, and those with a remit for infectious diseases. They could be working in local authorities, the NHS and other organisations in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors. This includes those working in: drug services, community pharmacies, local authorities and the wider public, voluntary and community sectors.

In addition, it will be of interest to people who inject drugs, their families and other members of the public.

Who should do what at a glance

Who should take action?

Recommendation

Health and wellbeing boards

1, 2, 3, 6

Children's safeguarding boards

5

Local pharmaceutical committees

8

Directors of public health

1, 2, 3, 5

Commissioners

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10

Providers of needle and syringe programmes

4, 7, 10

Public health practitioners

1, 2, 4, 10

Coordinators of community pharmacy-based programmes

8

Community pharmacies

7, 8, 9 (if relevant)

Specialist needle and syringe programmes

9

Who should take action in detail

Recommendation 1

Health and wellbeing boards; commissioners of drug, infectious disease, pharmacy and primary care services; directors of public health and public health practitioners whose remit includes needle and syringe programmes and infectious diseases

Recommendation 2

Health and wellbeing boards; commissioners of drug, infectious disease, pharmacy and primary care services; directors of public health and public health practitioners whose remit includes needle and syringe programmes and infectious diseases

Recommendation 3

Health and wellbeing boards; commissioners of drug, infectious disease, pharmacy and primary care services; directors of public health

Recommendation 4

Health and wellbeing boards; commissioners and providers of needle and syringe programmes; public health practitioners whose remit includes needle and syringe programmes and infectious diseases

Recommendation 5

Directors of public health; commissioners and providers of needle and syringe programmes; commissioners and providers of young people's services; commissioners of young people's specialist substance misuse services; children's safeguarding boards

Recommendation 6

Health and wellbeing boards; commissioners of drug, infectious disease prevention, pharmacy and primary care services

Recommendation 7

Needle and syringe programme providers

Recommendation 8

Community pharmacies that run a needle and syringe programme, regardless of the level of service they offer (see recommendation 6); coordinators of community pharmacy-based needle and syringe programmes; local pharmaceutical committees

Recommendation 9

Specialist needle and syringe programmes (including community pharmacies offering a level 3 service)

Recommendation 10

Commissioners of needle and syringe programmes; providers of needle and syringe programmes; public health practitioners with a remit for needle and syringe programmes and for the prevention of infectious diseases

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)