Serious Health Issues

Many people accessing treatment at Broadreach House have on-going illnesses or conditions that may or may not be directly associated with their addiction, and require on-going treatment. The medical and nursing provision at Broadreach, allows for the safe and effective management of health issues including type 2 diabetes, leg ulcers and abscesses and anti-coagulant therapy for DVT.

Service users with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome may be assessed but consideration would need to be given based on the level of cognitive involvement and the client’s ability to benefit from the structured treatment programme.

Health issues commonly related to injecting can be well managed within the unit. All nurses can provide wound care for abscesses and have access to the services of a Tissue Viability Nurse able to offer advice. An established relationship exists with the local PCT BBV Nurse Specialist who can visit the unit to see any client seeking testing and or requiring on-going Hep B injections. Venepuncture can be carried out on the premises for monitoring improvements in liver function if required as can finger prick testing for clients in receipt of anti-coagulant therapy.

General medical conditions are not uncommon and these are also monitored, e.g. insulin dependent diabetes. There is an established relationship with the PCT Diabetic Nurse Specialist, who is able to visit Broadreach and offer advice. Facilities also exist on site to perform ECG’s.

Our local hospital is less than three miles away in the rare event an emergency referral is necessary, a suspected DVT is not uncommon.