GOVAN Law Centre (GLC) is pleased to report that vital health and social care services for people with drug and alcohol issues are no longer at risk of closure or reduction in Glasgow.
GLC had raised separate Court of Session proceedings for judicial review for service users of Turning Point Scotland’s (TPS) Glasgow Drug and Alcohol Crisis Service (DACS) and Residential Stabilisation Service (RSS).
A petition was served against Glasgow City Council and City Property Glasgow (Investments) LLP; as well as a second petition against the Glasgow Integrated Joint Board (the IJB or Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership – HSCP).
Head of Govanhill Law Centre and Firm Partner at GLC, Rachel Moon said: “We were instructed to raise two petitions for judicial review given our clients’ concerns about the imminent loss of essential drug and alcohol crisis and rehabilitation services in the city”.
“The position advanced by the HSCP at meetings, briefings and in the media had been inconsistent and confusing. In July 2026, TPS were told the HSCP did not have the resources, expertise or funding to take the provision of their services in house. Yet, two weeks later that was the decision made without any consultation or an equality impact assessment”.
“The HSCP had also advised that rehabilitation services at the RSS would not be retained in Glasgow and our clients understandably sought assurances as to the ongoing provision of essential services. The HSCP’s Chief Officer, Pat Togher, wrote to GLC to confirm that both DACS and RSS would continue with no loss of service”.
“The HSCP will now take both services in-house, with all of TPS staff being transferred over to the local authority. This decision was confirmed at the IJB’s Board meeting yesterday, 23 September 2026”.
Yesterday, the National Records of Scotland confirmed that there were 196 drug related deaths in Glasgow, representing a 6% increase from the previous year. Across Scotland, there were 1,133 deaths from drug use, which was 11% more than the preceding year.
The instructing solicitor in both proceedings was GLC’s Partner and Head of Govanhill Law Centre, Rachel Moon; GLC’s Solicitor Advocate, Mike Dailly appeared for the petitioner; and Laura McDonagh, Partner and Megan O’Donnell, Solicitor, of Drummond Miller LLP acted as Edinburgh agents in both cases.
