NHS Lothian Harm Reduction Team Linda Smith Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Within Harm are reduction team Nurse-led community-based resource providing support to services within acute hospitals to deliver care to drug users at high risk of harm Key link between acute and community care Drug Liaison What See patients who have dependent (daily) or we do erratic and hazardous drug use. [...] Some who are not already engaged with community Service treatment services. [...] Improving access to and retention with opiate substitution therapy. [...] Advocate for patients and assist with diagnosis, intervention, treatment and care for patients who may have complex, unrecognised health conditions • Substance use has evolved • The way people use substances has changed • Increased cocaine injecting What's • Frequent hospital presentations • Significant increase in changed? severe injection related infections (SIRIS) • Complex, deeper infections,. [...] • Longer lengths of stay in hospital – poorly tolerated • Extended IV antibiotic treatment • Costly • Provide safe initiation and titration of OST • Provide harm reduction advice • Provide expert infection advice • Provide support to remain in hospital if appropriate • Provide sensible and realistic treatment plan • Organise effective treatment and follow up in the Aims event of an unplanned disch.