'Young people and rural areas let down by lack of drug treatment and prevention services'
Rural areas, young people, and marginalised groups are reported as being 'disproportionately affected' by service discrepancies.
Meanwhile, the review found that annual funding arrangements and restrictive hiring policies have contributed to staff shortages and disruptions in service delivery.
The national drug strategy (NDS) is set out as a national framework for addressing substance use through a 'whole-of-Government, person-centred, and health-led' approach that primarily frames substance use as a public health issue.
An independent review of the strategy, published on Monday, has found that several stakeholders also believe prevention efforts are underdeveloped, inconsistent, and lacking national ownership.
The report, compiled by Grant Thornton, notes some progress and achievements, but makes 10 recommendations for the future direction of the strategy.
The 10 strategic recommendations
Improve the right to health for people who use drugs, providing culturally-sensitive and appropriate services for all groups.
Increase community engagement and involvement from people who use these services, ensuring that they are central to policy-making and service design.
Align service delivery with regional priorities, working with Health Regions to ensure that the implementation of a future drugs strategy and allocation of resources are appropriate to the local population needs.
Maintain and strengthen coordination and communication between the oversight structures of the National Drugs Strategy.
Establish mechanisms for interdepartmental collaboration, reflecting the need for systemic alignment across housing, justice and health sectors.
Continue to strengthen alternatives to coercive sanctions for those found in possession of drugs for personal use, such as the Health Diversion Scheme and community liaison roles.
Ensure equitable access to peer-led recovery services and develop national standards for recovery pathways.
Strengthen prevention and early intervention initiatives across sectors.
Strengthen the integration of alcohol within the national drugs strategy, rolling out integrated treatment services to enhance service delivery.
Invest in monitoring, evaluation and research systems to support evidence-based policy and accountability.
The authors consulted with the HSE, the health research board, members of the national oversight committee and strategic implementation groups for the NDS, as well as service users and family members with experience of drug use.
Based on those engagements, it found that equity of access continues to be a concern, particularly for marginalised groups.
Prevention and early intervention efforts were found to be fragmented and inconsistently delivered, while recovery and service-user involvement requires further formalisation and resourcing.
Additionally, the limited integration of alcohol policy and the 'gradual implementation of legal reforms', such as alternative sanctions, were identified as requiring strategic refinement.
Governance structures
Meanwhile, governance structures were found to lack clearly defined roles, mandates, and accountability mechanisms.
Stakeholders highlighted the need for strong national leadership, enhanced co-ordination across departments, and more inclusive decision-making processes that incorporate lived experience of service users.
There were also calls for enhanced data integration and the establishment of a national research and evaluation centre. The report also details claims of inconsistent reporting from all treatment providers, which is further constraining the ability to assess the strategy's effectiveness.
Stakeholders reported that high attrition rates have been observed in different regions due to factors that include limited funding.
Multi-annual funding
There were repeated calls by some stakeholders for multi-annual funding commitments and targeted workforce investment to support more consistent and sustainable service provision.
Prevention efforts were widely viewed as 'under-resourced and lacking strategic focus'.
There was an emphasis on the need for early, community-based interventions that address root causes such as trauma, poverty, and social disadvantage.
Evidence shows that early-life experiences significantly influence later substance use. The social, personal, and health education programme in schools was repeatedly cited for its inconsistent delivery.
Alcohol addiction
Many stakeholders also felt that the NDS lacked clarity and strategic direction regarding alcohol addiction.
Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said it is 'essential' to assess how the more than €300 million in annual public expenditure on drugs delivers impact. She said:
The establishment of new HSE health regions presents a valuable opportunity to tailor drug treatment services to population needs and to ensure that both existing and new funding is allocated effectively and transparently.
Meanwhile, the minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, said: 'We have made significant progress in implementing the national drugs strategy, and I'm pleased that the independent evaluation documents the many achievements over the last eight years.'
She added: 'The recommendations from the independent evaluation will inform the development of the successor National Drugs Strategy.
"We need to move forward with new policies and better services to address the ever-changing drugs situation.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
a few seconds ago
- Irish Independent
More clarity needed on plans for HPV catch-up scheme for under-25s, says Roderic O'Gorman
The Government needs to be clear about its plan to roll out a HPV catch-up scheme for those aged under 25, Green Party TD Roderic O'Gorman has said.
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, July 22nd: On emergency dental treatment, Áras candidates and vulgar language
Sir – The Dáil held a two-hour debate last week highlighting the appalling lack of dental services for medical card holders who are among the most vulnerable patients in the State. I am a dentist in a busy urban practice in Dublin where over 90 per cent of our patients are medical card holders. We provide a walk-in emergency service treating severe toothache and acute oral sepsis. Untreated, these conditions can result in serious medical morbidity requiring hospital admission. In addition to self referral, we receive referrals from some of the major acute adult hospitals in Dublin, from local HSE clinics and even occasionally from the Dublin Dental Hospital. The provision of emergency dental care is a fundamental care requirement, but incredibly, the HSE does not provide emergency dental care for the majority of medical card holders in Ireland. READ MORE I am seeing medical card patients on a daily basis who are travelling increasing distances to access urgently required treatments. This is despite the fact that medical card holders often have complex care requirements precipitated by medical co-morbidity and widespread dental disease including rampant caries and generalised periodontal infection. Multiple treatments are regularly required to alleviate pain and stabilise chronic dental disease, but the HSE does not reimburse many of the treatments provided. Alarmingly, I care for a lot of patients who despite advancing pain and swelling are reticent to attend for treatment as they are unsure of what treatments the HSE will pay for on their behalf. Provision of emergency dental care is further hampered by the exodus of large numbers of dentists from the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), and a difficulty in recruitment due to a long cumbersome application process for new dentists. The paucity of emergency dental care services for medical card holders needs to be addressed urgently, if we are to stem the harm of untreated dental disease in our most vulnerable patient cohort. – Yours, etc, DARAGH FAGAN, Malahide Road, Dublin 3. Presidential election Sir, – Mary Hanafin suggested at the MacGill Summer School (' It will be an 'insult' if Fianna Fáil don't enter presidential race ', July 19th) that there is still 'not enough understanding' between communities in Northern Ireland or between North and South to justify extending presidential voting rights. It's difficult to see how this argument holds. Even putting aside the short-sighted partitionism, it's more than a little patronising to imply that civic equality must be earned rather than extended. People in Northern Ireland are not politically naïve; they live daily with the consequences of all-island decision-making and have done so since 1921. That effigies are burned on bonfires is deplorable – even more so when accompanied by explicit racist and sectarian messaging – but that doesn't justify withholding a democratic right from an entire population. Political understanding is not something we withhold until conditions are perfect; it's something we cultivate through equal participation. If the fundamental concern is mistrust or division, then the answer surely lies in more democratic engagement, not less. It's also hard to square Ms Hanafin's stance with the fact that she served in the government that co-signed the Belfast Agreement – and now seeks the nomination of the party that successfully fielded Mary McAleese in 1997 on a platform of building bridges. At least 141 countries already grant such rights. Why shouldn't we? – Yours, etc, GÁIBHIN McGRANAGHAN, Dunmurry, Belfast. Sir, – With what is looking like being an increasingly packed presidential election dance card this autumn, one way of whittling down the candidates at the first televised debate, might be to have them all perform Riverdance. (' Somebody has to speak for the Irish people': Michael Flatley 'seriously' considering presidential bid, ' July 19th). Michael Flatley could direct this long line of hoofers which would doubtless be of great 'benefit to the Irish people'. – Yours, etc, SEAN BOYLE, Singapore. Sir, – I see that the latest celebrity to declare an interest in running for the presidency has stated that he wishes to become a 'voice for the people'. Would it be too much to ask that candidates, potential candidates, commentators and assorted columnists, before they express their vision, hopes, policies, intentions or desires in respect of the office, study Article 13 of Bunreacht na hÉireann? We might be spared a lot of meaningless verbiage and pointless virtue signalling if they do so carefully. – Yours, etc, MICHAEL O'DWYER, Clogheen, Cork. R eluctant repealers Sir, – Breda O'Brien writes about abortion rates (' As abortions triple when will we admit that reluctant repealers were profoundly wrong, ' July 20th). Many abortions, initiated by the person themselves, involve the morning after pill. Others are done by families who have gotten a profoundly upsetting medical diagnosis and are trying to do the best for their family and an ultimately failed pregnancy. My heart especially goes out to that last group who must go through things I would never wish upon anyone. My judgment goes out to none of them – if they don't feel ready to have a child, it is certainly not my place to disagree with them. I do wonder about folks like Breda O'Brien, however. She still seems to want to battle the availability of abortion ostensibly for the children. If you care about children, we need housing. We need to address affordability issues that affect young families. Better childcare and better leave policies for parents. Last I checked, we're still not fortifying flour with folic acid, which is an internationally recognised way to help head off medical conditions in newborns. We need to expand our health service. We need concrete steps on addressing domestic violence. We need better mental health and addiction services. All these things can help families and reduce rates of abortion. Yes, they require effort and resources on our part and are harder than just dictating how people behave. However, I would argue that they're more effective. After repeal, I had hoped some anti-Repeal folks would actually help get things done to help families and make non-termination 'choices' more attractive. I must say that I have been disappointed, even in the low expectations that I had. – Yours, etc, KEVIN LYDA, Caherlistrane, Co Galway. Sir, – I was surprised by the judgmental tone of the article by Breda O'Brien. To my mind the provision of abortion is an integral part of creating a woman friendly society and judging the ways women manage the toll of any part of their obstetric or gynaecological history is most definitely not. – Yours, etc, DR MARY SCRIVEN, Athlone, Co Westmeath . Vulgar language Sir, – In your magazine section there is an article by Brianna Parkins ' People who get up early for no good reason are a menace to society, ' (July 19th). Ms Parkins, referring to jet lag, makes the point that to cope with it she went to bed late. She then tells us, 'But I shouldn't have bothered my hole.' Is Ms Parkins, as a journalist, so bereft in her vocabulary that this was the only way to express her frustration? More to the point perhaps is that The Irish Times doesn't seem to have a problem with it. – Yours, etc, NOEL HOWARD, Kilworth, Co Cork. Apologising for the US and Israel Sir, – While Andrias O'Loinsiagh's apology (Letters, July 19th) for the behaviour of his country's ambassador to Israel and his shame regarding the foreign policy of the current US administration is appreciated, it's important to recall that the ongoing brutality in Gaza did not begin with Mike Huckabee, or even Donald Trump, but under President Joe Biden. The vast majority of the killing so far in the current phase of Israel's war on Gaza took place with the full military, financial and diplomatic support of the Biden administration. This is not just about one US party or administration. For decades, both Democrats and Republicans have funded and shielded Israel, regardless of its actions. That bipartisan consensus remains firmly intact and shows no signs of weakening. There was no indication during last year's US presidential campaign that a Harris presidency would mark any meaningful departure from this support either. Some Democrats and liberal commentators, long silent on Israeli abuses, have only found their voices now, mainly in partisan reaction to Trump-era figures like Huckabee and the crude symbolism they represent within domestic US politics. That's not good enough. Selective outrage offers no comfort to the people of Gaza. – Yours, etc, SÉAMUS WHITE, Stoneybatter Dublin 7. Sir, – Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne claims that there is 'very clearly a danger that the Occupied Territories Bill] would be misrepresented around the world as somehow sanctions on Israel', adding that 'it's not sanctions on Israel, rather it's sanctions on illegally occupied territories,' (Irish public's caution on Occupied Territories Bill reflects 'considered' view – Taoiseach, July 19th). A simple question: if the Palestinian territories are illegally occupied, then who is illegally occupying them? A simple answer: Israel. We are forever being told that we 'must not single out Israel', yet that state is forever being singled out for impunity, as if the crimes it perpetrates against the Palestinians somehow happened independently of the perpetrator. It's time to abandon this double-think and double-speak and sanction Israel until it complies with international law and international humanitarian law. – Yours, etc, RAYMOND DEANE, Dublin 7. Proud of Ireland Sir, – As I prepared to watch the match yesterday on TV, I was full of apprehension and hopeful, of course, that my native county of Tipperary might actually achieve victory. I was very taken, however, when the television cameras zoomed in to show our glorious Croke Park, which was very soon to be occupied by our teams from Cork and Tipperary displaying a game to the whole world that in my opinion must surely be one of the most skilful. How proud I was when I considered all we have achieved in this little country of ours 100 years since we achieved our freedom from English imperialism. Our glorious Croke Park and our 30 very skilled players are a source of great pride to our nation as pictures of our big day were seen all over the world. What a wonderful little nation we are and what a pity we are so slow in praising ourselves. – Yours, etc, MARIAN QUIRKE, Ballyglass, Co Tipperary. Sir, – The manner of Tipperary's dismantling of Cork in the second half of Sunday's hurling final was awesome and probably unprecedented. Despite the shock which registered on the faces of disbelieving Cork fans in the packed stands they accepted defeat with grace and magnanimity in post-match interviews – right down to the crushed rebel supporter who allowed that Tipperary was 'probably' the better team in the second half. Credit to both teams for delivering a memorable final. – Yours, etc, PJ McDERMOTT, Westport, Co Mayo. Lions tour of Australia Sir, – 'Whingeing poms' is the term used by Australians to describe complaining or moaning newcomers to their country. Matt Williams in his column, 'Charmless Lions put on a masterclass in how not to win friends', (July 19th) provided a splendid example of the whingeing Aussie. His piece is a litany of whinges: the Lions 'have not been great ambassadors for the game'; 'winning the hearts and of the Australian rugby public has not appeared on the Lions to-do list'; 'this not an overwhelmingly brilliant XV'; unlike the Wallabies – 'who are out in the community, visiting children's hospitals…' And so on. He then extends his gripes to rugby followers, noting 'the north (!) has conveniently forgotten that only a few weeks ago an understrength Argentina had defeated the Lions'. The purpose of a Lions tour is to play and win rugby matches; it's not an ambassadorial or charm mission. Yours etc. KEN MAWHINNEY, Dublin 16. Not just The Ticket Sir, – The Ticket highlighting Australian Dreams, a collection of Australian films on at the Irish Film Institute includes Jane Campion as an Australian director and Sam Neill as an Australian actor. I am proud to advise they are in fact both Kiwis. And I thought it was only Australians who liked to claim famous New Zealanders as their own. – Yours, etc, CLAIRE SANDERS, Fairview, Dublin 3 . That Coldplay concert footage Sir, – Well done to Coldplay for simultaneously releasing four singles to the market overnight. – Yours, etc, ULTAN Ó BROIN, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Ryanair bag money Sir, – Having witnessed firsthand the distress Ryanair gate agents cause for often imperceptible infractions of baggage size, I am disturbed to find out they are doing this for only €1.50 each time. In future, should I see this happen I will offer the agent €2 to allow a fellow passenger on without paying a fine. – Yours, etc, COLM DOYLE, Arbour Hill, Dublin. Failed by the system Sir, – We write as organisations representing people under 65 with neurodegenerative conditions, brain injuries, disabilities, and complex needs – along with their families, carers and frontline workers. We speak for a growing community failed by this system. Across Ireland, people under 65 are placed in nursing homes – never designed for their needs. Isolated among residents their parents' or grandparents' age, they are denied vital supports like therapy, rehabilitation, neurological care, peer networks, and meaningful activities to preserve their independence and wellbeing. We know of a man with cerebral palsy whose only option was a nursing home – the same type of facility where both his parents live with dementia. Successive governments have promised to end this practice. His situation has not changed. This is not a care pathway. It is a dead end. The Ombudsman's Wasted Lives Update (2024) reports 32 people under 65 admitted to nursing homes every month. More than 1,200 now live in these settings , not because of clinical need, but because there is nowhere else to go. This is a human rights issue. Everyone, including those with disabilities and complex needs, has the right to dignity and equal treatment. We call on the Government to commit to urgently develop and enact a national strategy to end this practice. This must include regular publication of national data on admissions, their diagnoses and unmet needs; development of community-based, age-appropriate supported living options and clear exit pathways for those already in nursing homes. It must also include guaranteed access to multidisciplinary care while people await transition. These are not radical asks. They are the bare minimum in a country ranked among the wealthiest in the world based on GDP per capita. We need action –now. – Yours, etc, JOE CONDON, Early Onset Parkinson's Disease Ireland, EMER BEGLEY, Disability Federation of Ireland, DR KAREN FOLEY, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, MAGDALEN ROGERS, Neurological Alliance of Ireland , AVA BATTLES, Multiple Sclerosis Society, ALAN BREATHNACH, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, SHANE O'BRIEN, Parkinson's Ireland, MAUREEN SWEENEY, Ataxia Foundation Ireland, PHILIP HENDRICK, Centre for Independent Living Galway, CATHERINE COX, Family Carers Ireland, MARIE HICKEY, Dystonia Ireland, THOMAS J LILLIS, Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland, RICHARD STABLES, Headway Ireland, CHRISTINA DONNELLY, Chronic Pain Ireland, VICKY McGRATH, Rare Diseases Ireland, THERESA ANDERSON, Cheshire Ireland, FIONA BOLGER, Spinal Injuries Ireland. Letter heads Sir, – I suppose I have been fairly fortunate in having an acceptable percentage of letters printed in your esteemed publication, keeping to the rule of being short, pithy and hopefully droll. I can tell you that regardless of the success or failure rate, nothing beats ripping open The Irish Times the following day to see – 'Has it been printed?' – and again the second day or even the third until reaching the inevitable conclusion - not this time. – Yours, etc. JOHN RISELEY, Killiney, Co Dublin.
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Dr Zoe shares the red-flag warning signs your headache is serious – and needs medical attention
WITH the holidays upon us, it can be a challenging time for parents to juggle the stresses of work and childcare while trying to keep the family active and healthy. Physical activity is essential for children, not just for their health but for their development, happiness and self-esteem. Advertisement 4 Sun columnist Dr Zoe answers your health concerns Credit: Olivia West Recent data shows that 53 per cent of It's called 'Activate' and it is a fun, accessible new animated series, backed by the Government, to help address childhood inactivity. Each five-minute episode offers bursts of energy, fun and movement that can be enjoyed at home or on the go. Advertisement READ MORE FROM DR ZOE View it free on YouTube Kids. One of the best ways to inspire children to be active, now and in the future, is to be active yourself. We are children's most important role models. Here is a selection of what readers have asked this week . . . Advertisement Most read in Health Exclusive Mum dies after going to A&E with a 'sudden headache' IS HEAD PAIN CANCER? Q: I HAVE been getting severe headaches for a few months now. My doctor prescribed codeine, but even that does not help. If l press the back of my neck and my temples, it alleviates the pain for a while. Please can you advise me what to do as l am very worried? Advertisement A: Tension headaches, the most common Applying pressure to these areas can sometimes help and the best painkillers for Activities to help you relax, such as exercise, yoga and massage, can be beneficial. Stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, poor posture and eye strain can cause tension headaches, too. Advertisement Another possible cause that can be alleviated with pressure is cervicogenic headaches, which originate from issues in the cervical spine (neck), such as arthritis or muscle tension. Pain starts in the neck and spreads to the head, often worsening with certain neck movements. It could be that you are performing 'acupressure' while pressing your neck and temples. Acupressure works by applying pressure to specific points on the body, to relieve pain, muscle tension and promote wellbeing. Advertisement It's a manual therapy technique rooted in Chinese medicine, similar to acupuncture but without needles. So even if the pain in your head isn't directly linked to these sites, pressing can help, as you have found. In people over the age of 50 who develop severe headaches, pain or tenderness at the temples, sometimes with scalp tenderness or jaw pain when chewing, we must rule out an inflammatory condition called temporal arteritis, which can lead to vision loss or stroke if untreated. Another red flag is Advertisement Other symptoms that cause concern include headaches accompanied by fever, stiff neck or confusion (suggesting meningitis); headaches with neurological symptoms like vision changes or weakness; headaches after head trauma; and headaches that progressively worsen or don't respond to treatment. Sick of feeling always off balance Q: ABOUT two years ago I suffered a bout of blurred vision and sickness. I was diagnosed with 4 Dr Zoe helps a reader who has vestibular neuritis Credit: Getty Advertisement I've been told I would have this for life. Is there any way I could be cured of this and be able to walk without fear of falling over? It is ruining my life. A: I'm sorry to hear how much this diagnosis has impacted your quality of life. Advertisement Long-term dizziness and instability from vestibular neuritis can be deeply distressing but it's important to know there are still options that may help you regain stability – many people see significant improvement even if the condition is described as 'incurable'. Vestibular neuritis means inflammation of the vestibular nerve. This is the nerve that takes messages from the balance organ within the inner ear to the brain. It's most commonly caused by a viral infection of the nerve. Advertisement It tends to cause sudden and severe dizziness, nausea and issues with balance for a week or two. In most cases, things resolve fully after two to three months, but in a small number of cases, such as yours, symptoms persist. There's currently no way to reverse permanent nerve damage in the vestibular system. However, it's not inevitable for symptoms to persist for life. Many people achieve substantial recovery of their balance and reduction of dizziness through specialised therapies even years after their initial illness. Advertisement You could ask to be referred for vestibular rehabilitation therapy. This treatment uses physical and occupational therapy techniques to treat vertigo and balance disorders, designed to help your brain 'recalibrate' to the changed signals from your balance system. Chronic dizziness can also take a toll on your mental health, so seeking talking therapy might also help your recovery. TIP OF THE WEEK WHEN lifting something, particularly if it is big, heavy or from floor level, always remember the mantra: 'Legs, not back'. Bend your knees and keep your back straight while you use your leg muscles to raise the weight. This may help to prevent back injury. WEEKEND WARRIOR WIN 4 Exercising only at the weekend can be enough to slash your risk of dying young Credit: Getty Advertisement EXERCISING only at the weekend can be enough to slash your risk of dying young, a study found. Researchers at Harvard University, USA, said 'weekend warriors' with diabetes get as much benefit as people who work out every day. Cramming physical activity into Saturday and Sunday is common as many of us struggle to make time in our daily lives. It might seem like less exercise but a study showed the heart benefits can be just as great. Advertisement Data from 52,000 Americans with diabetes showed that weekend warriors had a 21 per cent lower risk of dying young compared to those who didn't exercise. Their risk of dying from heart disease was 33 per cent lower, study authors wrote in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. The key was simply to hit the NHS target of at least two and a half hours of moderate activity over the two days. Commenting on the study, Professor Ronald Sigal of the University of Calgary, said: 'Regular physical activity is recommended for most people with or without diabetes. Advertisement 'On the whole, these findings are encouraging. 'They provide evidence that protective effects of physical activity against cardiovascular and overall mortality could be achieved through one or two weekly physical activity sessions.' Sport England figures show adults trying to get fit is on the rise, with 30million people – 64 per cent of adults – hitting the NHS exercise target last year. CALL TO HAVE HPV JAB HUNDREDS of thousands of young adults will be contacted by the NHS in an HPV vaccine catch-up campaign. Advertisement The jab is given at schools and is targeting the elimination of cervical cancer in the UK in the next 15 years. More than 418,000 people have left school unvaccinated in the past three years and many more people under the age of 26 are unprotected. NHS England is contacting young adults who have not had the vaccine to prevent infection with the sexually transmitted HPV virus. Many strains are harmless but a few cause cervical cancer, and cancers of the mouth, throat, penis, vagina and anus. Advertisement The NHS wants to use the one-dose vaccine to wipe out cervical cancer in England by 2040. Dr Amanda Doyle at NHS England said: 'This vaccine is hugely important but it isn't just for girls and women. "It's also vital for boys and men to get vaccinated to protect themselves against cancers of the mouth, throat or genitals, while preventing spreading the HPV infection to partners. 'Encouraging progress has been made but we know there is much more to do.' Advertisement Public health minister Ashley Dalton added: 'If you missed your vaccination at school, it's not too late to get vaccinated. 'Don't hesitate to make an appointment with your GP – one jab could save your life.' Eligible patients should get a letter, email, text or NHS app notification. Patients can call their GP practice if they think they need any vaccinations. Advertisement Q: I AM a pensioner and I need an RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] vaccine. I have had this illness twice, last time I lost 2st. I have begged my doctor for the jab but they say I can't have it because they have a limit on the people they can give it to – and at 83 years old, I am outside their limit. 4 Dr Zoe helps a reader who needs the RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] vaccine Credit: Getty Advertisement I was born with cysts on my lungs, I have COPD, asthma, bronchiectasis and am having tests for a lump on my lung. I asked the lung specialist for help but my GP still refuses. A : Thank you for writing in and I hear your frustrations. Unfortunately, I cannot give you the news that you want to hear but I can at least explain why your GP is not allowed to give you the RSV vaccine. Advertisement In September 2024, the NHS introduced an RSV vaccine programme, which is currently only offered to people aged 75 to 79 (or for those who turned 80 after September 1, 2024, who are eligible until August 31, 2025). So you are not eligible to receive the RSV vaccine on the NHS and it is not down to your GP's choice or discretion, unfortunately. Your NHS respiratory doctor cannot override this either, as the age-based rules do not currently allow for clinical discretion or prioritisation based on chronic illness alone. Advertisement The decision to limit the programme to those under 80 comes from clinical trial evidence and national guidelines, as studies did not provide enough data on vaccine effectiveness and safety in the 80+ age group. The eligibility criteria may change in the future, depending on new evidence or updates to UK vaccination policy. If you still wish to be vaccinated, it may be possible to access the vaccine privately. Or, you can discuss other RSV preventive measures with your GP. Advertisement I'm sorry it's not the answer you wanted, but hopefully understanding that it is out of your GP's hands will alleviate some of your frustration, and help you to maintain a good, trusted, doctor-patient relationship. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
