DRUG COURTS PILOT PLAN CRIPPLED BY DOCTORS BAN

Government plans for Drug Courts have been thrown into chaos because
doctors will refuse to treat drug offenders when the first such court opens
on Tuesday.

The decision by GPs means the pilot Drug Court will be badly crippled when
it begins operating. "We have placed an embargo on GPs co operating with
the Drug Court," said Dr Cathal O'Sullivan of GPs Specialising in Substance
Abuse (GPSSA).

This includes the City Clinic in Dublin's north inner city, where the vast
majority of referrals from the Drug Court will be sent.

The Drug Court, initiated by the Government as a priority, will offer
treatment and rehabilitation, on a voluntary basis, instead of prison, to
non violent drug offenders.

It will run on a pilot basis over the next 18 months in Dublin's north
inner city.

Dr O'Sullivan said the 50 GPs working in Dublin's drug treatment centres
deal with almost 90% of all heroin addicts on methadone maintenance
programmes in the Eastern Region Health Authority (ERHA).

"This means that there will be no one available to take on any cases from
the Drug Court, except for psychiatrists in Trinity Court who treat the
other 10%. But they already have a waiting list."

He said the embargo would affect all new clients, not just those referred
from the Drug Court.

However, he stressed that work would continue with existing patients.

The action by the GPSSA follows a long running dispute with management over
working conditions. "We are working without a contract and with minimum
legal requirements. We have no sick benefit and no maternity leave, no
study leave and no provision for pensions."

He said GPs were employed on a sessional basis - paid for each session they
work - which means they are not treated as employees.

Dr O'Sullivan said GPs had no formal role in the treatment service and had
with no input into policy or planning. Little discussion had taken place
with GPs regarding the operation of the Drug Court.

The GPSSA asked the Irish Medical Organisation a few weeks ago to pursue
its case with the Northern Area Health Board of the ERHA.

The Northern Area Health Board (NAHB) and the IMO confirmed that
discussions were under way. "It is hoped that any outstanding issues will
be resolved in the near future," said a NAHB spokesperson.

An IMO spokesperson said it would be holding a meeting with the NAHB on
January 12 - three days after the Drug Court begins.

A Courts Service spokesperson said it was hopeful the dispute would be
resolved as soon as possible. Either way, he said, the Drug Court would go
ahead.