Pharmacy Needle Exchange Programme (Ireland) September 2011

The Programme:

• The programme will be run over a three year period with 65 pharmacies trained and recruited to provide needle exchange each year
• The programme will target areas outside of Dublin
• The programme will be evaluated over its life time; with programme reviews happening on a 12 month basis; a cost effectiveness review being conducted on all current forms of NEX provision currently funded by the HSE with an anticipated timeframe of Q4 2012 for completion and an external evaluation to be carried out in the later stages of year 3.
• The programme will become operational in October 2011.

Locations for Phase One:

• Sites were identified based on the feedback from HSE Regions in September 2010 and expressions of interest from pharmacies to participate.
• Please note that the scheme is an opt-in one in relation to pharmacy participation; locations and gaps will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and recruitment is organised through the National Liaison Pharmacist’s office.
• Once pharmacies have signed off on the service level agreement with the HSE in relation to participation their contact details will be passed on to the relevant regions to facilitate promotion via existing networks of services and referrals into treatment.

Contact Details:
The National Liaison Pharmacy Office can be contacted at the following address:
Regional Drug Co-ordination Unit,
HSE Mid-West, PO Box 486 Corporate House,
Mungret Street, Limerick
Phone: 061 318 633 Fax No: 061 469 143