Decision Report 201504628

Summary

Mr C entered into a patient contract with the NHS about the prescription of substitute medication used to help patients to stop the use of heroin. A nurse gave Mr C a dose of the medication, but it was suspected that he had diverted the medication. The nurse checked his mouth and found no sign of it. Mr C said he had broken the medication so it could be taken quicker. However, the board decided to withdraw the medication. Mr C told us that taking the medication was the only option for him to lead a normal life and that the decision to stop it has affected adversely his mental health and confidence.

We took independent advice from a medical adviser who said the board's decision was reasonable. We found that the patient contract was very specific about the way in which the medication should be taken and that the medication could be withdrawn on the basis of suspicion of misuse.