A new centre of excellence for drug and alcohol treatment has opened in Birmingham, offering a unique 'one-stop-shop' approach to detox, stabilisation and rehabilitation for residential and community patients. Supported by £2.3m of NTA funding, Park House provides 24-hour nursing and healthcare, with the centre containing its own dispensary, GP-style treatment rooms, and blood-testing facility. The centre is delivered by an innovative consortium of providers, marrying the skills of Inclusion Drug Alcohol Services, Phoenix Futures and Midland Heart Housing Association. This will ensure that every aspect of the recovery journey from clinical management of detoxification to reintegration into the community gets a skilled focus.
Service users have helped shape every aspect of Park House, and this trend is planned to continue. Partnership-working – with families, carers and the community – is an equal priority; it's hoped the centre will be a hub for drug treatment in the city, with emphasis on service user involvement, support groups and links with housing and employment agencies.
NTA director of delivery Rosanna O'Connor said: "Park House is the first centre of its kind in Birmingham and fills a vital gap in the range of treatment on offer in the city. Our support of this project is further evidence of our commitment to provide a balanced service in England which enables addicts to move as quickly and safely as possible through treatment to recovery and reintegration into their local community."
Mike Quinn, DAAT project manager, said: "Park House accommodates people with the most severe drug and alcohol problems and those ready to make long-term changes to their lifestyle.
"With recovery and abstinence now high on the government's agenda, we see Park House as a unique and much-needed resource for the city which provides residents with 24-hour nursing and health care. Park House is a big improvement to the city's drug and alcohol treatment system and will help Birmingham to achieve the wider aims of the city to improve overall levels of health and wellbeing and reduce risks from offending behaviour and drug use"