ALCOHOL BRIEF INTERVENTIONS IN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY
This section contains information about Alcohol Brief Interventions in accident and emergency settings.
NHS Orkney
For information about the overall approach to delivery of ABI in NHS Orkney, please email andrea.spence-jones@nhs.net
Delivering ABIs in an A&E department.
Summary: A partnership model of working was developed between A&E staff and the Drug and Alcohol team. Initially the decision was taken to develop an Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) for tackling alcohol presentations in young people aged 14-25 in Casualty. Part of the pathway included FAST screening and then discussing the result with the patient. When H4 became operational it made sense to build on existing good practice demonstrated by A&E and so all staff were trained in ABI in- house and intervention skills were enhanced to allow planned screening of patients. Eventually the age range was extended to include all age groups.
Delivery Model: Planned screening & delivery of ABI.
With consent, GP’s will be notified if any follow up is necessary.
Supporting Factors: Designing a robust pathway to address the issue, with dedicated staff acting as ABI champions has been very helpful as has the willingness of staff to embrace ABIs to ultimately reduce alcohol-related admissions in the department.
Robust data capture system
Challenges: ABIs are not suitable for those who are intoxicated and the capacity of staff during busy periods has presented some difficulties, as has organisational changes within the department.
Contact details:
Andy Spence-Jones
ABI Coordinator
andrea.spence-jones@nhs.net