Pharmacy-based needle exchange (PBNX) schemes in South East England: a survey of service providers

Aims. To describe the activities of service providers with regard to (i) the business operation and policies defining pharmacy-based needle exchange (PBNX) in South East England; (ii) the day-to-day work of PBNX outlets from the provider perspective; and (iii) problems encountered by PBNX providers. Design. (i) Postal self-completion questionnaire to all participating PBNX community pharmacies in South East England; and (ii) postal self-completion questionnaire to needle exchange coordinators. Setting. Community pharmacy needle exchanges. Participants. Pharmacists in charge of needle exchange; and needle exchange coordinators. Findings. Data were collected (i) from 381/440 (86.7%) participating community pharmacists, and (ii) 32/36 (88.9%) of coordinators. The study found that PBNX was reaching injecting drug users (many of whom used PBNX regularly), and providing a wide range of injecting equipment. Although pharmacists reported that problems such as shoplifting occurred relatively frequently, more serious problems such as violence were relatively rare. However, PBNX pharmacists reported needing further training for themselves and their staff. Suggested improvements included better advertising of services and improving returns rates for used injecting equipment. Conclusion. Needle exchange can reasonably be provided by non-specialist health care professionals such as community pharmacists. However, attention should to be paid to the educational needs of service providers who also require adequate support.