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Alcohol Health Work
Added on
07/06/2010
Updated on
01/03/2011
High Impact Changes
In 'Signs for Improvement - commissioning interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm' [DH 2009] High Impact Change number 5 is 'Appoint an Alcohol Health Worker'. This is a commissioned activity that is calculated to impact most effectively on alcohol-related harm and reduce the rate of rise in alcohol-related admissions.
Discussion and Debate
We host a dedicated Hospital Alcohol Liaison discussion forum where you can talk about your work and problem solve with others around the country. The forum is moderated by specialist alcohol nurses and you can ask messages posted to be sent to you via email for easy access.
Hospital Alcohol Liaison Forum
Alcohol Health Workers
A report conducted by Alcohol Concern for the DH in July 2010 provides a review and description of AHW posts and examines a number of different models being used across the country. Service specifications, structures and protocols, job descriptions, data collection and other information is analysed and presented in the report below.
- Alcohol Health Workers - description and review of the AHW posts
Report analysing eight different National Alcohol Health Worker service models providing information on roles, staffing, activity, training, referrals, collaboration , clinical governance, evidence of...
Case Studies in More Detail
Many of the AHW case studies analysed in this report appear on our Projects pages and can be viewed in detail below. Additional documentation from these services utilised in the Alcohol Concern report are also available here.
The services are listed in the same order as the report and guidelines and protocols provided are local examples.
Doncaster Royal Infirmary - Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Guidelines for the Management of Alcohol Issues in the Acute General Hospital Setting - Doncaster
- Drug and Alcohol Liaison Nurse Specialist Operational Policy - Bassetlaw
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals Operational Policy, Alcohol Liaison Nurse Specification and Service Specification. - Combined Risk Screening and Assessment - Doncaster
- Alcohol Screening and Referral Form - Doncaster
- Nurse Prescribing Doncaster
Westminster - St Mary's Hospital Paddington
Alcohol Health Work in St Mary's Hospital - full project details
AHW Presentations and alcohol Protocols and IBA tools from St Mary's are also available on the Emergency Medicine page
- Alcohol Health Work and Screening
These presentations provide an overview of the role of alcohol health work at St Mary's Hospital. They includes local data on A&E PAT alcohol-related attendance (2005-2007), info on identification... - Changing Attitudes to Alcohol Health Work - Touquet
Hertfordshire
Bolton
Bolton Alcohol Treatment System - full project details
Royal Bolton Hospital collaborative care for alcohol related liver disease and harm - full project details
Liverpool
Liverpool Alcohol Services Lifestyles Team - full project details
AHW Presentations and alcohol Protocols from Liverpool are also available on the Emergency Medicine page
Bristol
Bristol Hospital Based Alcohol Nurse Specialist - full project details 
Middlesborough
Middlesbrough Hospital based Primary Alcohol Drug Service (PADS) - full project details
Nottingham
Nottingham City Alcohol Nurse Liaison Team - full project details
Other resources
- Alcohol Related Disease: Meeting the Challenge of Improved Quality of care and Better Use of Resources
A Joint Position Paper by British Society Gastroenterology/British Association of the Liver/Alcohol Health Alliance. This paper, which focuses particularly, but not exclusively, on secondary care, makes...