AN Inverness addictions charity has suspended support for new clients, claiming it has been unable to secure the necessary backing from NHS Highland
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In a letter to the health board David Cameron, chairman of Addiction Counselling Inverness (ACI), said it took the decision after an emergency board meeting.
“The charity has waited patiently for NHS Highland to resolve its various procurement and funding positions and be clear on its future relationship with ACI for several months,” he said. “Unfortunately, now only six weeks from our financial year end, the charity has had no meaningful or worthwhile engagement from NHS Highland and remain without any knowledge whatsoever on its future intentions.
“We cannot now operate with any confidence of acting as a going concern beyond the end of March 2022.
“Therefore, with deep regret, our board has agreed to suspend service to new clients.”
He added: “As a local charity with a proud reputation and successful history of providing free support to people with needs for counselling to address addictions, and supporting their wider families impacted by addiction, we have delayed this decision until the final possible point.
“The continued absolute failure of effective engagement from NHS Highland has now left us with no option other than to take the decision to suspend our service offer to new clients.”
The charity has been running for 34 years and provides support and counselling for those struggling with drug, gambling and alcohol addiction, offering a range of face-to-face and online appointments.
ACI recently received a community justice award from The Highland Third Sector Interface, but Mr Cameron added: “Sadly,while the recognition from HTSI is a welcome and deserved recognition for the commitment and contributions of our counsellors and staff, awards do not pay the bills.”
Not quite the end of the road for the charity Mr Cameron says it is seeking £102,000 in grant support from NHS Highland which, if provided, would allow it to recommence provision.
“As all our fully trained, qualified counsellors and many of our administrative services are given free by volunteers, we estimate the value of the counselling provided by the charity is at least £300,000 annually for the 237 clients seen over 2021,” he said.
“The failure to support the charity going forward therefore appears to pose at least a £300,000 hole in the health care of the Highlands going forward while saving only £430 per client helped by the charity.
“As the NHS Highland board, you will be better informed than I of the financial cost to acute care services from the absence of counselling interventions and support offered by ACI should you chose not to continue our funding.
“I’m not sure how the loss of the free counselling services offered by our charity will be counted in the social cost to our communities, policing costs and other GP and health care services in the Highlands.”
ACI has arranged a further emergency meeting for March 9 to consider its position at that time.
A spokesman for NHS Highland said: "NHS Highland works closely with a range of partner’s board wide to develop our addiction services.
"We are actively working with partners to improve and enhance the provision of future services."
