The Pan London Primary Care Network for Substance Misuse
(PANN)
RCGP SMAH Regional Lead and Chair of PANN Dr Matthew Young
The Pan London Primary Care Network for Substance Misuse (PANN)
was launched in June 2001. It was formed as a forum to provide, for
GPs and others working with drug users in primary care in London,
training, support and policy updates and to provide on-going
support to health professionals working within the London Shared
Care Schemes.
In 2003 the meetings were expanded to acknowledge that PANN had
developed into a network to include people who had undertaken and
wanted to take the RCGP Certificate in Drug Dependency and other
senior practitioners working in the field of primary care drug
treatment.
The meetings have become a recognised forum for debate and
education about current practice and policy for specialist
substance misuse practitioners. These groups also act as a forum to
discuss local issues, learn together and develop primary care
action plans for local areas. The meetings can also form part of
practitioner’s continuing development plan.
Anybody working in substance misuse can attend the meeting. We
try to meet three times a year and usually have a primary topic
although other current issues are often discussed. Hopefully this
has and will continue to lead to improved joint working in local
areas, as well as London generally. Recent meeting have
discussed:
Pain and Addiction
Cannabis and Mental Health
Experiences of substance misuse among female sex workers in
South London
Management of hepatitis C
Implementing NICE guidance
UK Guidelines on clinical management of substance misuse
Next Meeting
Tuesday 26 June 2012. 1 Bow Churchyard, London EC4M
9DQ. 1pm - 5pm
For further information contact Dr. Matt Young (matthew.young@nhs.net).
Future Meeting Dates
Tuesday 23 October 2012. London venue to be confirmed.
If you have any topics or ideas which you would like to discuss
at future meetings, then please contact Dr. Matt Young (RCGP SMAH
London Regional Lead) at matthew.young@nhs.net , Matt
also has a blog spot with regular updates etc which you can access
at http://www.rcgplondondrugtraining.blogspot.com/.