The delayed safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow is hoped to be open by the end of the year according to the Health Secretary.

Neil Gray was quizzed about the project and the wider drugs death crisis, by Glasgow MSPs at Holyrood.

The centre, at Hunter Street in the East End, was due to be open last month but safety checks have held it up.

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Gray said: “Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership is working to see it operational as soon as possible. Hopefully before the end of the year.”

(Image: Scottish Government)

He said NHS Assure was involved making sure the centre can be operational.

Maggie Page, head of the Drugs Strategy Unit said: “There is water testing over a three week period.”

She said it was “final snagging”.

Gray was asked about the wider efforts to reduce Glasgow’s record drug death figures.

Bob Doris, Maryhill and Springburn SNP MSP, asked about support for people when they leave rehab and for people who need it more than once.

(Image: Scottish Parliament)

Gray said the government will provide support out of rehab but said it is difficult to audit a journey because everyone is different.

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Paul Sweeney, Labour Glasgow MSP, asked if there were any plans to increase the opening hours of the facility which will be 9am to 9pm.

(Image: Newsquest)

Gray told the committee that was a matter for the HSCP to consider and the pilot was an opportunity to “test and learn”.

He said: “The HSCP will be looking at demand and if availability can increase.

Annie Wells, Conservative Glasgow MSP, asked for an update on residential rehab beds in Scotland and how many were in use.

(Image: PA)

She was told the target was 1000 beds but Gray did not know why that was the target.

Pauline McNeill, Labour Glasgow MSP, wanted to know what recording there was of demand for residential rehab.

(Image: PA)

Gray said: “We have to recognise that residential rehab isn’t going to work for everyone. It is only one part of other elements.”

No date has yet been set for the Safer Drug Consumption room to open.

A spokesperson for Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership said: “We are close to opening the UK’s first Safe Consumption Drug Facility and like any project of this scale, there are complexities which need to be worked out.

“Whilst we haven’t been able to meet our estimated opening date, all partners continue to work at pace to ensure that we get this service open as soon as possible.

“This will happen once the building passes the stringent NHS Assure process which has been put in place to ensure public safety.”