Public Health England (PHE) have released a conference report following an event earlier in the year exploring the role of Alcohol Care Teams (ACTs) in London. The event follows PHE ACT guidance released last year and also aimed to showcase best practice whilst exploring funding issues and the business case for investing in ACTs.
Download 'Developing Alcohol Care in London's Hospitals and Beyond' [doc] - slide links included within the document.
Presentations were given by a number of speakers including Sir Ian Gilmore, who gave overview of the current harm caused by alcohol in the UK and the case for ACTs. This followed an opening address by Professor Yvonne Doyle, London Centre Director for PHE, outlining the picture of alcohol harm in the capital.
Professor Colin Drummond detailed the case for ACTs and factors that need to be taken in to consideration when commissioning an Alcohol Care Team. Jo Roebuck, from PHE London's Alcohol and Drugs Team presented on the recent PHE guidance and value for money tools.
As an example of ‘Commissioning a Best Practice Alcohol Care Team’, former Ealing Public Health Commissioner Elizabeth Offer presented on the business case used to commission the service, as well as the links with local outcome frameworks and governance.
Adrian Jugdoyal, Alcohol Liaison Nurse in Ealing Hospital identified that additional investment through the Ealing ACT produced exponential outcomes, better safeguarding, and significantly reduced the rate of alcohol related hospital admissions. He also stated that the basic requirements for an alcohol care team are four staff with administrative support covering seven days a week plus evenings.
Adrian Brown, Alcohol Liaison Nurse at Northwick Park hospital, also presented a comprehensive generic care pathway whilst key messages from workshops on commissioning and local planning for ACTs are also detailed.
See the conference report for links to all the presentations, here for PHE's ACT review and PHE guidance to improve support for young people in A&E. See here for a 2014 Alcohol Research UK report, A national study of acute care Alcohol Health Workers.
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