31st January 2024

You are clerking a 54-year-old man onto the respiratory ward at 10.00 on Monday morning

You are clerking a 54-year-old man onto the respiratory ward at 10.00 on Monday morning. He was admitted last night with shortness of breath, a productive cough and a slight oxygen requirement, which has now resolved. A chest X-ray shows consolidation. You diagnose community-acquired pneumonia and form a plan for him to be discharged the following day with oral antibiotics if he remains stable overnight. He tells you he takes 14 mg of buprenorphine daily at 9.30 as opioid substitution treatment. How should you manage this patient’s opioid substitution treatment?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.