Lower-level substance abuse services in Bridgend county are set to be re-commissioned as a result of switching health boards (pdf).
Bridgend moved from the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (now Swansea Bay) health board to Cwm Taf (now Cwm Taf Morgannwg) health board in 2019. Some services in Bridgend didn’t make the switch immediately, including substance abuse.
Rhondda Cynon Taf is the lead authority for commissioning substance abuse services in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area and will be tasked with procuring new Tier 1 and Tier 2 substance abuse services for Bridgend.
Tier 1 services are the lowest level of intervention and can be provided by GPs, A&E departments as well as non-health providers like housing associations and the police.
Tier 2 services are generally provided at specialist drug treatment drop-in centres. At this point, intervention includes support for families and measures to reduce harm.
The bulk of funding for substance abuse services comes from the Welsh Government, with just over £1million spent annually in the Bridgend area. Bridgend Council currently contributes £140,000 towards these services and this is set to continue.
