To support delivery of these services, providers can request an initial visit from a representative of Public Health Dorset, the relevant local authority, or a treatment provider to advise on setting up the service and to give practical advice on how the needle exchange transaction can take place within the location.
Needle Exchange and Supervised Consumption frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Needle exchange
Needle exchange reporting to Public Health Dorset
Providers using PharmOutcomes or Outcomes4Health should use the relevant needle exchange templates within these systems as outlined in the service specification.
Ordering needle exchange equipment
Before ordering any needle exchange equipment providers should notify the commissioner of their intention to commence service delivery.
- Dorset Council - phcontracts@dorsetcc.gov.uk
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council - karen.wood@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Dorset Council and BCP Council providers
The equipment required to deliver this service can be ordered from the Frontier Medical Group. Orders should be placed before midday on a Monday following the process outlined below:
- email Frontier Group (state the provider name, delivery address and a contact telephone number, and the quantity of stock required including order codes)
- the Frontier Needle Exchange Sales team will confirm the order by email
- packs are provided in cartons of 25 or 50 packs and the supplier is normally able to deliver within 3 to 4 working days
The current order codes for the cartons are as follows:
- X034 for 50 red packs
- X035 for 25 red packs
- X114A for 50 blue packs
- X218 for 25 blue packs
Arranging needle exchange waste disposal
The bin currently recommended is the yellow 30 litre container. It is recommended that the provider has several bins available at any one time.
Arrangements are in place for a contracted waste collection provider to collect and dispose of full sharps containers. The provider is required to oversee these collections and ensure that only full bins are taken by the waste collection service.
Dorset Council providers
Providers ordering bins for the disposal of injecting equipment for the first time need to be set up on the PHS supplier system and should email James Connelly at Dorset Council who will set this up on your behalf.
Bins can be ordered from the PHS waste collection service and by emailing PHS customer service with the providing location's full address and postcode.
BCP Council providers
Providers ordering bins for the disposal of injecting equipment for the first time need to be set up on the PHS supplier system and should email Karen Wood at BCP Council who will set this up on your behalf.
Bins can be ordered from the PHS waste collection service and by emailing PHS customer service with the providing location's full address and postcode.
Supervised consumption
Supervised consumption reporting to Public Health Dorset
- providers using PharmOutcomes or Outcomes4Health should use the relevant supervised consumption templates within these systems as outlined in the service specification.
Needle exchange and supervised consumption training requirements
The information below is a summary of the main training requirements to deliver this service. For more detailed information please see the service specifications.
Annual training
- in partnership between Public Health Dorset and the Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC), to update staff knowledge of the latest evidence and local trends and issues, annual training opportunities will be advertised on this page
- before beginning to deliver the services, the provider should make sure staff are able to answer the questions listed in Appendix 1 of the specifications
- staff can complete the 4 e-learning modules on “Substance use and misuse” to demonstrate competence according to the Appendix 1 framework.Other sources of information and training may be equally appropriate