Banbury addiction clinic warns of 'dangerous bottleneck' and fatalities

The Banbury Lodge clinic has been treating new addicts every day during the Covid-19 crisis and says it is helping to prevent a bottleneck of addicts across the country who, staff predict, will seek help once lockdown is over.

'Drastic' operational changes were made to the UK Addiction Treatment Group’s Banbury Lodge rehabilitation clinic the day the virus reached the UK on January 31.

A Covid Crisis Management Team was formed and the rehab remained open, operational and Covid-free, continuing to treat addicts from Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas.

Between January 31 - May 23 (85 days) 172 clients were treated at Banbury Lodge, an average of two admissions per day.

The Turning Point organisation, working for Oxfordshire County Council public health, has satisfied demand in Banbury during the lockdown with a 'slight increase' in the number of people seeking support for alcohol problems.

Banbury Lodge management says that without the clinic, the addicts it has helped may have continued their addiction at home, significantly increasing the chances of putting strain on local ambulance and NHS hospitals during the peak of the pandemic.

Compared to this time last year, admissions at Banbury Lodge were almost 20 per cent higher and the team blames the Government for its ‘chosen silence’ over what services were still open during the Coronavirus crisis.

"Time is of the essence when it comes to successfully treating someone with an addiction,” said Nuno Albuquerque, Treatment Lead for the UK Addiction Treatment Group which operates Banbury Lodge.

"As soon as an addict asks for help, help needs to be provided. They cannot wait until lockdown is lifted. This is why it was crucial for us to ensure our rehab remained open and able to admit clients across Oxfordshire during the crisis and by acting swiftly we were able to keep all clients and staff safe during this incredibly difficult time.

“The Government chose to remain silent when it came to people suffering with addiction; they chose to not encourage getting the help they desperately needed and so we fully expect a rush of clients seeking treatment once lockdown is over. This is a dangerous approach to take, as in the last four months, their dependency will have worsened and for some, the delay in getting treatment may well have been fatal.

“Addiction doesn’t stop because we’re in the midst of a global pandemic and so neither could we.”

Banbury Lodge launched online group aftercare programmes available to all clients leaving treatment during the Covid crisis. These support groups offer regular interaction with therapists and others in the recovery community to help prevent relapse.

Andy Symons of Turning Point said: "Turning Point Services have been operational across the county and from our Banbury Hub throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We continue to provide a wide range of support for people experiencing drug and alcohol issues and helpful resources are listed on our website here.

"We are pleased that we have managed to retain everybody’s treatment within Banbury and we have experienced a slight increase with people seeking support from increased alcohol use. Whilst the recent months have clearly been a difficult time for many in Banbury, Turning Point has also experienced many service users making positive changes in their lives since the lockdown commenced."

Mr Symons encouraged all individuals, friends and family needing support to contact Turning Point on Banbury 225 544 where staff will be happy to help.

For more information about accessing Banbury Lodge's treatment and support for addiction see here and to read the Banbury Guardian's special report of March 2 here.