Addiction Support Waiting Times

71 items 1 source

Excessively long waiting times and delays in accessing addiction support and residential rehabilitation placements.

Cross-Source Insight

Addiction Support Waiting Times has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:

71 PFD reports

This theme has been identified in one data source. As more data is added, cross-references may emerge.

Darren Dickson
16 Mar 2026 · Cumbria
Concerns: Poor record-keeping meant that information and signposting provided to the patient were unclear, and inadequate communication between services led to conflicting advice regarding benzodiazepine use.
Pending
Darren Dickson
16 Mar 2026 · Cumbria
Concerns: Inadequate policies allowed supervision records to be overwritten and subsequently destroyed, preventing accurate ascertainment of information and raising concerns about proper record retention.
Pending
Charlotte Jones
11 Mar 2026 · Cumbria
Concerns: Information sharing procedures between different health services are inadequate, failing to ensure the proper exchange of service user information regardless of treatment pathway, which risks patient safety.
Pending
Kallum Reed
05 Feb 2026 · West London
Concerns: Unacceptably long waits for ASD/ADHD services and mental health crisis team gate-keeping failures led to patients being denied crucial in-person assessments and ongoing close care.
Pending
Samuel Brown
04 Dec 2025 · South Yorkshire East
Concerns: The primary care prescribing regime failed to identify potential addiction and drug-seeking behaviour, and neglected to review medications for ongoing necessity.
Response: NHS South Yorkshire ICB leads a multidisciplinary Opioid Safety Group that has developed Opioid Prescribing Guidance and a Shared Care Guideline for ADHD management for primary care. They have also …
Responded
Ella David-Fong
30 Jun 2025 · West London
Concerns: Inadequate guidance exists for families and carers on how to share concerns or communicate information when a patient, having capacity, withdraws consent for information sharing.
Responded
Michael Barry
12 Jun 2025 · Essex
Concerns: There is a critical lack of commissioned specialist services for GPs to safely manage patients reducing or withdrawing from prescribed dependency-forming medications, risking avoidable deaths.
Responded
Robert Smith
10 Apr 2025 · Manchester South
Concerns: Significant waiting lists for mental health therapies, including Interpersonal Therapy, are preventing patients from accessing essential support in a timely manner due to demand exceeding commissioned capacity.
Responded
Susan Karakoc
20 Dec 2024 · Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Concerns: Search engines readily return websites selling addictive prescription medications, indicating a failure in monitoring online supply chains and detecting criminal financial enterprises.
Overdue
Oliver Winson
20 Dec 2024 · Norfolk
Concerns: Patients with undiagnosed or untreated ADHD face excessively long waiting lists, leading to potential deterioration, harmful behaviors, and increased risk of death.
Responded
Paul Clark
16 Oct 2024 · Manchester South
Concerns: Opioid painkillers were prescribed to a patient with a well-documented history of opioid addiction, without sufficient consideration or monitoring of the significant relapse risks.
Responded
Paul Chase
14 Oct 2024 · Liverpool and Wirral
Concerns: There is a critical lack of mental health, alcoholism, and addiction support for veterans, both serving and after release. Resources are extremely limited, leading to extensive waiting times for essential treatment and therapy.
Responded
Emily Collishaw
27 Jun 2024 · Outer South London
Concerns: Insufficient, uncoordinated support and excessively long waiting times (up to seven months) for residential rehabilitation placements put vulnerable patients at significant risk, including sudden death.
Responded
Sailor Court
10 Jun 2024 · South London
Concerns: Unacceptably long and increasing waiting times for CAMHS assessment and treatment, due to a severe lack of resources, pose a significant risk to young people's mental health.
Responded
Brandon Turner
09 May 2024 · Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Concerns: Severe staff shortages in mental health services, a lack of crisis care alternatives for complex PTSD/EUPD patients, and a two-year waiting list for autism assessments pose significant risks.
Responded
Oliver Barnett
08 May 2024 · Cheshire
Concerns: The absence of residential substance misuse treatment facilities for children under 18 in England places them at increased risk of relapse and overdose by requiring parents to manage complex detoxification at home.
Responded
Lee Hughes
04 Mar 2024 · Inner West London
Concerns: There was a serious failure to manage the deceased's intoxication and unrousable state in prison, with medical help not sought despite clear signs. Critical opportunities for escalation and appropriate care were missed.
Responded
Dayle Bates
08 Feb 2024 · Cumbria
Concerns: Pharmacies lack a direct and obligated reporting system to inform Recovery Steps when service users stop collecting methadone or when wider welfare concerns arise, risking vulnerable individuals missing essential support.
Responded
Charlene Roberts
08 Dec 2023 · Manchester North
Concerns: Systemic failures in managing a complex patient included unquestioned long-term cyclizine prescribing, inadequate supervision, and a lack of specialist dual-diagnosis treatment options, allowing the patient to self-harm.
Responded
Holly Mullan
17 Oct 2023 · Manchester South
Concerns: Significant and prolonged NHS waiting times for gastroenterology and gynaecology referrals post-Covid are causing distress, delaying diagnoses, and impeding crucial treatment for patients with severe conditions.
Responded
Emily Corfield
14 Jul 2023 · North Wales East and Central
Concerns: An addiction support service lacked robust communication and record-keeping policies, relying solely on written correspondence, which led to service users being disengaged and facing long waiting times.
Responded
Nicholas Pennicott
11 May 2023 · West Sussex
Concerns: Persistent capacity issues and a three-year consultant vacancy in neurology led to long waiting times for outpatient appointments, missing opportunities for earlier specialist assessment.
Responded
REDACTED
03 Apr 2023 · Blackpool & Fylde
Concerns: Unacceptably long waiting times for young people's assessments due to finite resources placed children at risk, suggesting that earlier diagnosis and professional support could prevent deaths.
Overdue
Benjamin Nelson-Roux
23 Mar 2023 · North Yorkshire and York
Concerns: The system failed to find suitable accommodation for a homeless 16-year-old by limiting searches to county boundaries and lacking residential substance misuse treatment facilities for minors.
Overdue
Colin Smith
16 Sep 2022 · Newcastle and North Tyneside
Concerns: Hostel workers lacked structured training to identify risks of alcohol intoxication and recognize the need for urgent medical intervention, creating significant safety gaps.
Overdue
Robyn Skilton
07 Aug 2022 · West Sussex
Concerns: Significant underfunding and under-resourcing of CAMHS caused extensive waiting times for child psychiatrist assessments, preventing timely diagnosis and treatment. Exploding referral rates without proportionate resource increases have made the service unsustainable, endangering young people.
Responded
Claire Copeland
08 Mar 2022 · County Durham and Darlington
Concerns: The prescription delivery system is unsafe, relying on physical documents without witnessed delivery or confirmation. It lacks effective mechanisms to detect or remedy failed deliveries, risking discontinuity of vital medical treatment.
Responded
Daniel France
16 Feb 2022 · Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Concerns: Vulnerable young people face dangerously long waiting lists (over a year) for psychological therapy and specialist services like the Gender Identity Clinic, leaving a critical gap in support between urgent and non-urgent mental health interventions.
Overdue
Daniel Hall
10 Nov 2021 · South Wales Central
Concerns: University students face lengthy delays accessing mental health support, even when expressing suicidal ideation and having known risk factors like ASD.
Responded
Jane Bush
20 Oct 2021 · Norfolk
Concerns: Persistent delays in mental health assessments and access to psychological therapy are driven by ongoing staff recruitment and retention issues, hindering the Trust's ability to manage increased demand for complex cases.
Responded
Elaine Inns
26 Aug 2021 · Greater Manchester South
Concerns: Powerful painkillers, including liquid morphine, were continued despite known significant alcohol use and the patient's non-adherence to dosage instructions, posing a significant risk.
Responded
Hadley Savory
11 Aug 2021 · North East Kent
Concerns: There was no multi-agency planning or established procedures for the safe discharge of patients with complex concurrent mental health, substance misuse, social care, and physical health needs.
Overdue
Nicholas Spooner
28 Jun 2021 · Brighton and Hove
Concerns: There is an urgent need for specialist dual diagnosis services with outreach facilities for individuals experiencing mental health crises intertwined with substance abuse, who are often denied adequate support.
Overdue
Steven Allen
02 Jun 2021 · Greater Manchester South
Concerns: Strong pain medication was prescribed to a patient with a history of drug addiction and self-harm, often through remote consultations, with insufficient challenge or oversight regarding their chaotic lifestyle.
Responded
Parys Lapper
10 May 2021 · West Sussex
Concerns: A fragmented prescription system, lacking central records, allowed a patient to obtain excessive medication from multiple providers, enabling abuse and increasing the risk of fatal overdose.
Responded
Helen Spicer
07 May 2021 · Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Concerns: Oral morphine lacks sufficient controls, including import/export restrictions and safe custody requirements, making it easy to obtain without accountability.
Responded
Jade Rayner
30 Apr 2021 · Greater Manchester South
Concerns: Police failed to record and investigate a sexual offence allegation against a vulnerable patient, denying her victim support. There was also a lack of clear multi-agency strategy for complex cases involving trauma and alcohol misuse.
Responded
Natasha Crabb
13 Apr 2021 · County of Surrey
Concerns: There are no legal powers to prevent butane inhalation or restrict its purchase, making it easy for individuals addicted to obtain large amounts despite fatal risks.
Overdue
Daniel Mervis
03 Feb 2021 · Inner West London
Concerns: Oxford University lacks an overarching drug misuse policy, and St John's College's conflicting approach of severe penalties versus support may discourage students with addiction from seeking help.
Responded
Holly Chevassut
02 Dec 2020 · Coventry and Warwickshire
Concerns: Certain vehicle configurations, with low-height, protruding mirrors and guards, create a risk of serious injury or death to people overtaken by these vehicles.
Responded
Joseph Gingell
17 Feb 2020 · Essex
Concerns: Permitting "self-certification" for medication without checks, allowing abuse by vulnerable individuals, and not involving the GP removes crucial safeguards, contributing to toxic drug interactions.
Responded
Joanna Flynn
14 Nov 2019 · Essex
Concerns: There is a significant lack of specialised assistance, referral agencies, and adequate training for General Practitioners to help patients safely wean off addictive prescription opiates.
Overdue
Ricky Barcock
21 Sep 2019 · West Yorkshire (West)
Concerns: The client wellbeing check protocol during sleep needs review to ensure effective physical checks and rousing clients, especially drug users, to properly monitor their wellbeing.
Overdue
Justin Brown
27 Mar 2019 · Suffolk
Concerns: Hospital discharge processes failed to ensure confirmed addiction support. A lack of agreed protocols and collaboration with drug services meant referrals were not effectively monitored for vulnerable patients.
Overdue
Matthew Hamilton
14 Feb 2019 · County Durham and Darlington
Concerns: Individuals released from custody are unaware that reduced drug tolerance post-abstinence risks fatal overdose if pre-custody consumption levels are resumed.
Responded
Paul Gillam
11 Feb 2019 · Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly
Concerns: Concerns relate to the flawed operation of the dual diagnosis policy, inadequate development and implementation of the delivery plan, and a poor working relationship between Addaction and the Community Mental Health Team.
Overdue
Conor Crutchley
28 Jan 2019 · Manchester (South)
Concerns: The Early Intervention Team lacks specialist substance abuse workers for dual-diagnosis patients, and significant waiting times for talking therapies are hindered by recruitment and retention issues.
Responded
Benjamin Williamson
12 Dec 2018 · Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns: The CMHT repeatedly discharged a patient with co-occurring mental health and alcohol issues, while Addaction failed to communicate with his GP or address consent for information sharing, creating a significant care gap.
Responded
Scott Carton
07 Sep 2018 · West Yorkshire (East)
Concerns: Inadequate psychological support for prisoners with mental health and drug issues upon release, including unsuitable hostel placements without specialist input, compromises rehabilitation and increases re-offending risk.
Overdue
Karl Willis
24 Aug 2018 · Exeter and Greater Devon
Concerns: "Self-certification" for medication without GP notification allows vulnerable patients with addiction issues to obtain potentially toxic drugs like Amitriptyline unchecked, removing a crucial safeguard.
Responded
Jerome Jones
01 Aug 2018 · Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin
Concerns: Insufficient specific checks and a lack of policy for prisoners with multiple NPS use, combined with poor communication of medical risks and drug workers' limited access to medical records, posed significant dangers.
Responded
John Derwent
04 Jun 2018 · Manchester (South)
Concerns: Excessive waiting times for CBT (12 months) due to insufficient capacity and ineffective escalation mechanisms between commissioning and service providers prevented timely access to essential mental health treatment.
Overdue
Lakhminder Kaur
24 Jan 2018 · Black Country
Concerns: Concerns arose regarding unmanaged long-term zopiclone addiction and the immediate cessation of the drug, which was done to prevent serious self-harm.
Overdue
Christopher Hutton
12 Jan 2018 · Manchester (South)
Concerns: Significant backlogs and high demand within Probation services meant a critical court-ordered treatment program for the deceased was not commenced, despite his anxiety to complete it.
Responded
Stuart Campbell
30 Oct 2017 · Manchester (South)
Concerns: Inadequate guidance and clinical support for ADS workers, coupled with a failure to follow escalation protocols and properly document shared care discussions, contributed to unmet patient needs.
Responded
Thomas Wall
02 Aug 2017 · Brighton and Hove
Concerns: The lack of local in-patient detox facilities and long waiting lists are unacceptable. A more collaborative approach for dual diagnosis patients is critically needed, as current separation of care increases risk.
Responded
Aaron McCaffrey
16 Jun 2017 · Manchester (South)
Concerns: The lack of purchase limits for loperamide medication at retail stores enables bulk buying, increasing the risk of addiction and overdose.
Overdue
Jamie Pashley
28 May 2017 · London Inner (South)
Concerns: The system over-relied on individuals proactively managing their rehabilitation post-detoxification. Concerns included a lack of fixed appointments, follow-up calls, and limited availability of an alcohol liaison nurse post-discharge.
Overdue
David Read
08 Feb 2017 · Norfolk
Concerns: Critical delays occurred in arranging mental health appointments, with re-referrals being treated as new, resulting in dangerously long waiting lists and delayed access to care.
Responded
Robert Lloyd
29 Nov 2016 · Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns: Geographical isolation and reduced transport options severely limited face-to-face alcohol support services, leading to reliance on less effective video links and decreased engagement for island residents.
Overdue
Richard Breatnach
15 Sep 2016 · Brighton and Hove
Concerns: Online medication prescribing allowed applicants to provide false information without verification, leading to excessive and inappropriate prescription of an addictive drug without patient contact or correct guidance.
Overdue
Sian Armstrong
21 Jan 2015 · Avon
Concerns: A significant delay occurred in providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for a child, Sian Armstrong, who was assessed as needing it, highlighting a lack of timely access to critical mental health support.
Overdue
Anthony Huggan
26 Nov 2014 · Manchester (North)
Concerns: The lack of a suitable out-of-hours service for drug addiction placed an undue burden on emergency services, with insufficient timely follow-up for patients who self-discharged after overdoses.
Responded
Graham Darby
24 Jul 2014 · London North
Concerns: A crucial communication breakdown occurred as a patient's explicit suicide threat regarding eviction was not adequately flagged to the housing provider by mental health services. This prevented the housing provider from taking appropriate preventative actions.
Overdue
Sindy Woodhall
01 Jul 2014 · Manchester (North)
Concerns: A lack of regulation prevented intervention when retailers sold toxic gases to a known addict, highlighting a gap in the law and enforcement powers that poses a health risk.
Responded
Michael Tarratt
14 Mar 2014 · Leicester City & South Leicestershire
Concerns: There was an unacceptable 18-month lapse in communication between the drug and alcohol team and the GP. Services failed to exchange information on inappropriate prescriptions for an opiate-dependent patient.
Responded
Richard White
28 Feb 2014 · County Durham & Darlington
Concerns: Hope House lacked a formal, documented policy or protocol for medication administration, which was unknown to prescribers and not made available to staff.
Responded
Lee Bonsall
31 Jan 2014 · Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire
Concerns: Citalopram was inappropriately given on repeat prescription, contravening guidelines. Moreover, long ten-month waiting times for psychotherapy make it an unviable treatment alternative.
Response: The Department of Health disputes that national guidelines restrict the repeat prescribing of citalopram, stating they are not rules and prescribing remains a clinical responsibility. They will, however, forward the …
Response: The Department of Health notes that the tragic events occurred in Wales, placing responsibility with the Welsh Government, and recommends the report be sent to them.
Responded
Pauline Meredith
10 Jan 2014 · Staffordshire South
Concerns: Concerns include prolonged prescribing of excessive medication without review, adding morphine to a high-dose regimen for an alcohol-dependent patient, and a GP's perceived reluctance to address family concerns. Delayed involvement of mental health services was also noted.
Response: The surgery is undertaking an audit of all patients on opioid medication, developing a new protocol for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, and will train staff on this protocol. They …
Overdue
Alan Stanfield Browning
26 Nov 2013 · Avon
Concerns: A vulnerable patient was discharged from a care facility without family notification or proper accommodation arrangements, specifically on a Friday, highlighting a lack of robust discharge planning.
Pending
Darren Mindham
· London (South)
Pending