Written question asked by Lord Lilley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 7 March 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 March 2000. It was answered by John Denham (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 March 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are on waiting lists for methadone maintenance or withdrawal programmes; and what is the average waiting time for treatment. - Not available centrally.

Answer: Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on waiting lists for methadone maintenance or withdrawal programmes; and what is the average waiting time for treatment. [113957] Mr. Denham: The information requested is not available centrally. Information is available from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases on the number of users presenting to services for treatment and the drugs misused. Reliable information is not available centrally on waiting times for treatment. Revised clinical guidelines for the treatment of drug misusers were issued last year which recommend that methadone maintenance treatment should form an important part of drug misuse services. Substantial additional resources are being allocated to health authorities and local authorities to expand treatment services and thus cut waiting times and achieve equity of access to treatment services.

Secondary information