Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 19 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether NHS Grampian is ensuring that all detainees in police custody in Elgin can access their prescribed medication, including methadone, in line with existing relevant operational procedures and guidance, and following the rapid review carried out in 2023.
On 21 July 2025, NHS Grampian confirmed that Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT) is now available at its Kittybrewster Suite. They also advised that work was ongoing to resolve logistical challenges in order to extend this service to the remaining two custody suites, including Elgin.
Following continued concerns regarding progress at these two custody suites—specifically in relation to PE1900: Access to prescribed medication for detainees in police custody—the Scottish Government wrote to NHS Grampian on 6 November 2025 requesting an update.
NHS Grampian have since confirmed that they agree that patients receiving methadone in the community should continue treatment in custody. However, due to logistical and supply issues that they have previously highlighted, this cannot currently be facilitated at Elgin and Fraserburgh Custody Suites. NHSG has only one pharmacy licensed to supply Schedule 2 medications to custody settings, and there is no mechanism to supply or deliver methadone, which is a Schedule 2 medication, to these sites. However, work is ongoing to resolve this and enable methadone administration in the future.
In the meantime, any patient assessed by a nurse or forensic medical examiner as requiring methadone will be transferred from Elgin or Fraserburgh to Kittybrewster in Aberdeen to continue treatment.
NHS Grampian have also advised that their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are based on Tayside and Highland examples, with adjustments for local service delivery and challenges. Efforts continue to address the supply of Schedule 2 medications to remote custody suites.
The Scottish Government continues to work with health boards, including NHS Grampian, to ensure expectations are being met in line with the 2023 Rapid Review.