Rumour has it that Models of Care for Alcohol Misuse (MOCAM) will be published tomorrow.
The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England promised that from the second quarter of 2004:
"The National Treatment Agency (NTA) will draw up a “Models of Care framework” for alcohol treatment services, drawing on the alcohol element of the existing Models of Care framework."
So, it's been nearly two years in the making. But will MOCAM make a difference to alcohol treatment? The Department of Health's needs assessment last year (ANARP) showed that only 5.6% of the in need alcohol dependent population are accessing alcohol treatment per annum. That low figure is to do with poor levels of identification and referral, but also it is because of the lack of availability of treatment.
The Department of Health's Programme of Improvements (see previous post) for alcohol treatment is all very well but without additional funding from central government or performance targets, the current situation (ie low levels of identification, referral and treatment) seems set to continue.
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