The London Ambulance Service (LAS) has unique access to people’s home. It is the only element of healthcare to see participants in the community, at the time that something has gone wrong—sometimes seriously.
It represents a unique reachable moment and GMHC and LAS have collaborated to produce a harm reduction tool—now rolled out across London.
Linked to a QR coded card, GMHC has built and manages a dedicated website. The landing page asks ‘What Do You Need?’ following by six clickable statements.
- I’m Worried About My Drug Use
- I Want to be Safer With What I’m Doing
- I Want to Know How to Look After Someone if Things Go Wrong
- I Want to Speak to Someone About What Happened
- I Need Help Following an Assault or Crime
- I Don’t Know What I Need
Following a contact with the ambulance service or another professional, cards are given out. Aiming to be gender and identity neutral, the website includes listings for LGBT+ and mainstream drug and alcohol services, helplines, safer chems (harm reduction), HIV and STI testing kits, chems first aid and the recovery position, legal help, and support following an assault or other crime.
London paramedics to help reduce risks of chemsex | 11 May 2023London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS)
Gay Men’s Health Collective (GMHC)
