Scotland’s worst drug and alcohol treatment times

NHS Tayside is the country’s slowest health board at treating people for alcohol and drug problems.

Across the region, 78.8% of people were seen within three weeks. The Scottish average is 94% and the national target is 90%.

ISD Scotland statistics also revealed 70% of people are seen within the timescale in Dundee, Scotland’s drugs-death capital. That is the worst in the country.

Conservative Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said: “Having access to alcohol and drug treatment is incredibly important and poor performance in this area is particularly disappointing.”

Public health minister and Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick welcomed the Scotlandwide performance, saying tackling the issue was “a priority for this government.”

A spokesperson for Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Waiting times have been impacted throughout 2018 by current service capacity and regrettably, this has meant a longer wait for some patients.”

A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership said it was currently undertaking a review of its services.

A spokesperson for Angus Health and Social Care Partnership said: “The recent integration of our local substance services has also provided an opportunity to provide a more inclusive approach to people and their families affected by substance misuse, including easier access to resources through drop in facilities across Angus, as well as out-of-hours clinics for those most at risk or in recovery.”