Care for people who use drugs – Support during and after your hospital stay

Opioid Withdrawal and iHOST

We know that feelings and fear of withdrawal can be very distressing and painful.

We are taking part in a project called iHOST (Improving Hospital Opioid Substitution Therapy). We will:

• Ask you some questions to understand what you need for opioid withdrawal.
• If you’re not already on methadone or buprenorphine in the community, we’ll check your withdrawal symptoms and can give you regular methadone to help you stay comfortable.
• If you are on a community prescription, we’ll contact Forward Leeds to make sure you get your usual dose as soon as possible.
• Two nurses have to give methadone together. They’ll aim to do this as quickly as they can – we know it matters.
• We’ll ask you how you’re feeling and check in regularly to see how your withdrawal symptoms are.
• We’ll ask whether you’d like to see Forward Leeds while you’re in hospital or after you leave.

To help us do this we ask that you

• Tell us how you are feeling.
• Talk to us if you’re worried about your meds.
• If you need more support with your meds call Release helpline on 02073242989 or email: [email protected]

Forward Leeds

Forward Leeds helps people who use drugs and alcohol. They don’t judge. They give advice and support, and help you set goals, whether that’s using more safely, cutting down or stopping.

• They can help you while you’re in hospital, even if you’ve never seen them before. If you agree they can visit you on the ward.
• The team can help you avoid using drugs in hospital and talk about support to stay off them after you leave.
• They can give you a naloxone kit to take home and explain how to protect yourself from opioid overdose.

Other support and recovery meetings

You can find out about, or even join meetings online while you’re in hospital. If you are well enough and there is a meeting locally, talk to staff about whether you can attend in person.

Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous and SMART Recovery all have meetings across Leeds. You can go to their websites or use the Recovery Meeting Finder.

Feeling safe

• If you are feeling unsafe at home or are worried about going back to where you live or sleep, please talk to us.
• If someone is hurting you, scaring you or controlling you please talk to us – we may be able to help keep you safe.
• If you need help speaking to the police, we can support you.

Housing

• If you are homeless, sofa surfing, staying in a hostel or are worried about where you live, please talk to us.
• If you are happy for us to, we may ask the Homeless Health Inclusion Team (HHIT) to see you and talk about support for after you leave hospital.

Clothing

• Bexley Boutique (Ward 91, Bexley Wing, St James’s University Hospital) can give you clothes if you need them.
• At the LGI, some clothes are available in the Emergency Department or at St George’s Crypt nearby.

Leeds Social Care

If you find it hard to look after yourself, move around, manage your home, or manage your money, we may ask you if you need Adult Social Care to help. They can talk with you about your needs and give support. You can also contact them yourself.

Pain

• If you are in pain in hospital, please tell us. We can look at your pain medicine and help with your recovery.
• Drugs like heroin or cannabis can change how pain medicine works, which may make pain harder to control.
• It might take longer to find the right pain medicine for you, but we want to keep you as comfortable as possible.

Mental Health

Using and withdrawing from drugs can affect your mental health. Experiencing a low mood or being anxious is common, especially if you are in hospital or dealing with health issues.

• Cutting down or stopping drugs may improve your mental health.
• Being in hospital, away from family and friends, or being bored can make things harder.
• Please tell us how you are feeling so we can help.

Hepatitis B, C and HIV

• Using drugs can increase your risk of infections.
• Always use a clean needle and don’t share needles with anyone.
• If you have blood taken, we will test for Hepatitis B & C and HIV unless you say no.
• If you inject drugs, you can protect yourself from Hepatitis B by getting vaccinated. Ask your doctor or nurse to give the vaccine in hospital, or your GP after you leave.
• For needle exchange information in Leeds, visit the Forward Leeds website.

Leeds Sexual Health

If you have signs of a sexually transmitted infection, want a sexual health check-up, PreP or contraception, you can get help at Leeds Sexual Health.

Behaviour

We know being in hospital can be tough, but some behaviours aren’t acceptable. If this happens, staff will tell you and ask you to stop. They’ll talk to you and try to understand why it happened and, if possible, make changes to help.

Please always treat our staff with respect.

The Leeds Way – Our promise to you

• Patient-centred
  We will make decisions about your health with you. Your health and wellbeing will be at the centre of these decisions.
• Fair
  We will treat you fairly, with respect and dignity.
• Accountable
  We will be honest with you about your health, tests and treatment.
• Collaborative
  We will work together with other professionals to give you the best care we can. This may include Forward Leeds, your GP, pharmacy teams, social services and others.
• Empowered
  We will help you make decisions and take control of your health and wellbeing.