Needle Exchange Stock Control New System
Current Position
There are 21 sites offering needle exchange in Sheffield, of which 20 are pharmacy needle and syringe programmes and 1 is the specialist needle exchange.
Sheffield DACT purchases needle exchange (NEX) stock on behalf of all needle and syringe programmes in the city from an annual budget of £55,000 for all NEX stock.
Sheffield DACT is the owner of all stock, which means that the risk is carried by Sheffield City Council rather than individual providers. The benefit for Sheffield City Council is that there are economies of scale from bulk purchase. As owner of all stock, Sheffield City Council is able to re-direct stock in the event of shortages.
Individual exchanges are responsible for placing orders with Sheffield City Council (DCT) and for ensuring they carry sufficient stock of all items to comply with NICE guidance. There is not set date for ordering or service standards around processing orders. Pharmacies do not routinely provide stock returns when they submit orders.
Stock is currently purchased from Exchanges Supplies, but this contract for supply will be offered for procurement during 2014/15. Views on the specification from needle and syringe programme providers will be sought, including on issues such as range of stock and time taken to process the orders.
New NEX stock order processing system
A set date is agreed for submitting a monthly stock audit (1st Friday of each month).
There are 2 set dates for submitting orders and they are the 1st Friday of the month and the 3rd Friday of the month. These 2 dates will be the ONLY order dates in the month, so NEX providers will need to base their orders on the amounts of each item given out in the previous month.
The audit/ order must be submitted on the excel spreadsheet audit/ order form by email to nominated SCC/ DACT staff by 12 noon on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month.
Here is a copy of Audit and Order form for you to view.
On receipt of stock audit, Sheffield City Council will review all returns to ensure all pharmacies are compliant with NICE NSP25 guidance[1] in terms of range of stock carried. Needle exchanges may be advised of the need to order additional stock items to be compliant.
Sheffield City Council will match stock and orders within 3 working days from receipt and confirm the final order placed and arrangements for collection of non-ordered stock.
Sheffield City Council will agree service standards with the current needle exchange stock supplier for time from order to delivery (aim is stock received by needle exchange 5 working days from order).
Implementation of the first stock audit/ order date: 4th July 2014.
Subsequent Dates: Friday 18th July 2014,
Friday 1st August 2014, 15th August 2014,
Friday 5th September 2014, 19th September 2014,
Friday 3rd October 2014, Friday 17th October 2014,
Friday 7th November 2014, Friday 21st November 2014,
Friday 5th December 2014, Friday 19th December 2014.
The new Non-Opiates Service provider will take over responsibility for ordering and managing stock on behalf of all the city’s NEX programmes from 1st January 2015.
Flowchart: New NEX stock order processing system.
[1]NICE NSP 52
- All needle and syringe programmes should carry a full range of stock to meet the bespoke needs of all local users.
- There should be no limit to the amount given in a transaction.
- Low dead spaces syringes (LDSS) should be made available through all needle and syringe programmes with advice regarding ‘flushing’.
- ‘nevershare’ or similar stock should be made available to avoid accidental sharing.