ABSTRACT

The goal of improving liaison between services obviously requires flexibility and goodwill on all sides, rather than the apportioning of blame for past and current problems, where these exist. From the general practice perspective, it is important to recognize the added value that alternative service providers offer for some patients. A more comprehensive approach to improving liaison would be through a local co-ordinating group, involving GPs, practice nurses, family planning and genitourinary medicine (GUM) staff, and possibly others, such as FHSA and health authority representatives, primary care facilitators and health promotion staff. Detailed discussion of the management of drug-using patients is beyond the scope of this publication, but good liaison between services can be important in ensuring that the general and sexual health needs of drug users are not neglected.