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Written question asked by Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench) on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Friday, 23 October 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Buprenorphine

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of allowing the use of injectable buprenorphine (Buvidal) for the treatment of drug addictive prisoners and whether Buvidal should be available for the benefit of all appropriate NHS patients.

Answer

NHS England commissions long-acting injectable buprenorphine as an opioid substitution treatment. It is available in all English prisons for patients for whom it is clinically appropriate.

NHS England has increased funding for this treatment and recently revised the national service specification to include long-acting buprenorphine as an alternative form of opioid substitution treatment for clinically appropriate patients.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL4039
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Drugs Prisoners Misuse Buprenorphine
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk