Primary Care Addiction Service Sheffield (PCASS)
About our services

What does the service offer?

Through accessing a range of primary care treatments and interventions, the clinic aims to help drug users stay as safe and as well as possible until they are ready to work towards being drug free. Patients remain with their own GP for general medical services and attend the PCASS to deal with any issues connected with their drug addiction.

Originally opening with 200 treatment places, the clinic has continued to develop and grow into its current position where over 900 treatment places are offered at any one time. Waiting lists remain low with average waiting times of less than 14 days. The service continues to attempt to best meet the needs of patients, GPs and other health care professionals throughout the city.

Who can use the PCASS service?

We offer treatment to patients with opiate dependency or poly drug misuse. The exceptions are patients under 18, patients whose primary addiction is alcohol and patients with severe mental health problems.

Patients must be registered with a Sheffield GP to access the service. We accept referrals from GPs, other health care professionals and agencies across the city. We are unable to accept self-referrals.

Our Services

The clinic is based at Guernsey House and comprises of:

A team of GPs with a Special Interest in Substance Misuse;
Clinical Nurse Specialists;
Drug Workers; and
Administrative Team.

Since opening, the clinic has developed a wide range of links and initiatives designed to give patients in the service the most comprehensive care possible. These include:

Hepatitis and HIV Outreach Clinic
Missed Appointments Clinic
Women Only Clinic
Homeless Clinic
Needle Exchange Referral Schemes

In addition to its clinical work, the clinic supports GPs throughout the city in developing shared care protocols and providing formal and informal training for GPs working with patients with drug addictions.

PCASS main page