A CHARITY that supports homeless people says it fears they may not be able to self-isolate if they show symptoms of coronavirus because of delays to drug addiction support.

Rough sleepers in Swindon who use heroin say they are having to wait four weeks to get a methadone prescription.

Threshold are concerned that even if rough sleepers showed symptoms they would not come forward as they would not have access to the drug while in isolation.

But Swindon Borough Council says Turning Point – the organisation commissioned to provide the addiction services for the borough – is following government advice for social distancing and is unable to have face-to-face contact with anyone experiencing coronavirus symptoms to start them on an opiate substitute prescription.

‘Paul’ lives in a bike shed in Old Town and wants to get a prescription for methadone.

“It’s just been a nightmare,” he said.

“I don’t want to get the virus while on the streets. I really would be in trouble then.”

Turning Point says it will arrange a prescription for any addict within 24-48 hours of an assessment. But Paul, who has no symptoms, had a face-to face assessment on March 17 and his next appointment is April 16.

He said: “I thought they would have given me something a bit sooner given the situation.

“I’m a bit confused, disappointed and frustrated. With the virus I thought it would push things along and it would be a priority.”

‘Andrew’ has been in emergency housing since last week after exhibiting symptoms.

He said: “I was feeling so ill it just got to the point where I thought I was going to die.”

Andrew has been homeless for 18 months and had been living in a car park.

He now has to stay in his accommodation for 14 days, without access to methadone despite having already had an assessment with Turning Point. Another appointment is arranged for March 30 but due to his symptoms he isn’t hopeful this will happen.

“It’s really difficult. I don’t know what to do,” he said.

Living on the streets also means it is harder for rough sleepers to protect themselves from the virus.

“If you looked at my hands now, you wouldn’t want to touch them,” Paul added.

“But I’ve got no way of washing them.”

“I’m so worried about catching this virus. I literally stay awake at night worrying about it because you do get so unwell.”

Paul continued: “These four extra weeks will mean I’ll have to carry on using drugs, which I really don’t want to do. I really want to get on a script.

“Also if I catch the virus in the meantime, I won’t then be able to go to my appointment in April.

“It could be life threatening if I got it on the streets,” he said.

A spokesperson for Threshold said: “Substance dependent individuals are highly unlikely to self-isolate unless they are provided with opiate-substitution therapy or medication to manage alcohol withdrawal.”

The spokesperson highlighted how rough sleepers often sleep in packs for warmth and safety as well as congregating at food handouts.

“They are likely to come into contact with a great many other homeless persons before their symptoms become fully evident,” the spokesperson said.

The charity said emergency prescribing clinics could be arranged if additional resources were made available to commission them.

Turning Point echoed the council’s sentiments, encouraging rough sleepers not experiencing Covid19 symptoms to contact the service if they want help.

A spokesperson said: “Once you have made contact we will be able to complete an assessment, arrange for you to see a prescriber and arrange an opiate substitute prescription to be sent to a local pharmacy of your choice within 24-48 hours.

“Turning Point is following government advice in relation to social distancing and cannot risk the well-being of staff and people we support, many of whom would fall into “high-risk” categories.

“We will therefore be unable to arrange a prescription for anyone that is currently experiencing symptoms.

*All names have been changed to protect the identity of those interviewed.