Needle exchange service

​​What is the needle exchange service?

We offer an anonymous and confidential needle exchange programme. 

Injecting equipment is available free of charge from the Alcohol and Drug Service and the General Hospital switchboard, located to the right of the ambulance bay at the Parade entrance. 

Pharmacies who are part of the programme charge a small fee (see table below).

Who can use the service?

The service is open to anyone over the age of 18. If you are under 18 years old, you should visit the Alcohol and Drug Service to get injecting equipment.

What equipment is available?

All of the needle exchange outlets can provide you with:

• black Fitpacks (sharp safe boxes), which contain:
• 10 x 1ml syringes
• citric acid
• pre-injection swabs

The Alcohol and Drug Service and the switchboard at the General Hospital provide:

• yellow Fitpacks, which contain:
• 5 x 2ml syringes
• citric acid
• pre-injection swabs

The Alcohol and Drug Service also provides a variety of different sized needles and syringes, single-use disposable spoons, filters and sterile water amps.

Needle exchange location	Days	Opening hours	Cost per Fitpack
Alcohol and Drug Service Stopford Road	Monday - Friday Saturday - Sunday	9am - 5pm (closed 1 - 2pm) Closed	Free
Lloyds Pharmacy David Place	Monday - Friday Saturday	8.30am - 6pm 9am - 5pm	£1.50
Lloyds Pharmacy Burrard Street	Monday - Friday Saturday	8.30am - 5.30pm 9am - 5.30pm	£1.50
Lloyds Pharmacy The Parade	Monday - Friday Saturday Sunday	8.30am - 6pm 9am - 5.30pm 10am - 2pm	£1.50
Reids Pharmacy New Street	Monday - Friday Saturday Sunday	8.30am - 7.30pm 9am - 6pm 9am - 1pm	£1.50
Reids Pharmacy Longueville	Monday - Friday Saturday	9am - 6pm 9am - 5.30pm (closed 1 - 2pm)	£1.50
Boots King Street	Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday Tuesday	8.30am - 5.45pm 9am - 5.45pm	£1.50
Boots Queen Street	Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday Tuesday	8.30am - 5.45pm 9am - 5.45pm	£1.50
Guardian Medical Saville Street	Monday - Friday Saturday	9am - 5pm 9am - 1pm	£1.50
Switchboard at the General Hospital (​Parade entrance)	Monday - Friday Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays	8.30pm - 7am All day	Free

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