Help for patients on sleeping pills

Health organisations across Kirklees will work together on the £35,000 scheme to support people taking tablets containing benzodiazepine.

It follows a year-long pilot at a single practice where half of patients were completely withdrawn from medication and the rest reduced doses.

Dr Nadeem Ghafoor, of North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said a recent study had linked higher doses of benzodiapines to a greater risk of accidents or falls and a general inability to deal with everyday life.

He said: “Specialised substance misuse workers will help patients understand the likely effects of withdrawal and establish better long term sleeping patterns without chemical help.”

The programme is being run by North Kirklees and Greater Huddersfield CCGs, Kirklees Public Health and substance abuse charity Lifeline Kirklees.