ALCOHOL BRIEF INTERVENTIONS IN PRIMARY CARE
This section contains information about Alcohol Brief Interventions in primary health care settings.
Quick links
NHS Borders
For information about the overall approach to delivery of ABI in NHS Borders email: susan.walker@borders.scot.nhs.uk
Sexual Health drop-in clinics
Summary: ABI delivery in Sexual Health services was briefly introduced in 2010, but screening and delivery had to cease due to a lack of capacity at the time.
ABIs delivered in this setting were intended to address and reduce risks by allowing staff to discuss alcohol consumption as a direct contributory factor to sexual health problems.
Delivery model: Opportunistic screening and delivery of ABIs.
Supporting factors: This confidential service offered opportunistic contact with individuals (predominantly young adults) where alcohol was involved in recent exposure to sexual health risks. As a result, ABIs are considered very relevant by staff.
Challenges: Time during drop-in slots is limited, which meant that capacity was an issue.
Contact details:
Susan Walker
ADP Development Officer
Borders ADP
susan.walker@borders.scot.nhs.uk
NHS Dumfries and Galloway
For information about the overall approach to delivery of ABIs in NHS Dumfries and Galloway email: lhyland@nhs.net
NHS: Play a Weigh
Summary: This service was developed in partnership with community and voluntary partners to provide information to young women in a friendly setting.
The aim is to increase their knowledge regarding their alcohol consumption and screen and deliver ABIs as appropriate.
Delivery model: Planned screening, delivery of ABI and follow-up.
Supporting factors: Health visitors are now confident in raising the issue of alcohol and delivering ABIs during visits.
Challenges: None noted.
Contact details:
Elaine Lamont
Public Health Practitioner
NHS Health Improvement, Dumfries and Galloway
elamont@nhs.net
NHS Forth Valley
For information about the overall approach to delivery of ABI in NHS Forth Valley email: theresa.martinus@nhs.net
Keep Well
Summary: The Keep Well assessment includes screening for alcohol use and providing advice and guidance about the benefits of reducing alcohol consumption to effect a positive impact on health and wellbeing.
Delivery model: Alcohol consumption is part of the overall Health Assessment and ABI screening and delivery is undertaken where appropriate.
Supporting factors: The fact that alcohol is included as part of the overall holistic assessment is a key factor.
Challenges: None identified.
Contact details:
Theresa Martinus
FVADP Coordinator
theresa.martinus@nhs.net
NHS Lothian
For information about the overall approach to delivery of ABI in NHS Lothian, email: jamie.megaw@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Sexual Health Service
Summary: Clear links were identified between sexual health clinic attendances and alcohol use, which has led us to train nursing and medical staff in GUM(genito-urinary medicine) and Family Planning service to screen and deliver ABIs.
In the short term, the desired outcome is to embed the delivery of ABI in core practice of sexual health staff in NHS Lothian. Longer term outcomes include a reduction in the consumption of alcohol, which links to sexual health presentations.
Delivery Model: Opportunistic screening and delivery of ABI.
Supporting Factors: Lead clinicians in sexual health teams were enthusiastic.
Challenges: Electronic recording of ABIs was difficult to establish.
Contact Details:
Eleanor McWhirter
ABI Lead
NHS Lothian
Eleanor.McWhirter@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Harm Reduction Service
Summary: An awareness of the links between addictive and other risk taking behaviours and alcohol use led to training nursing staff based within the NHS Lothian Harm Reduction unit (e.g. Needle Exchange) on ABI screening & delivery.
The main aims of this service are to embed the delivery of ABI in core practice of all substance misuse staff across Lothian.
Delivery Model: Opportunistic screening and delivery of ABI.
Supporting Factors: Support from senior management team.
Challenges: Obvious links with harm reduction and alcohol use – no challenges encountered to date.
Contact details:
Eleanor McWhirter
ABI Lead
NHS Lothian
Eleanor.McWhirter@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Hepatits C Managed Care Network
Summary: Links between alcohol use and other causes of liver disease led to a multidisciplinary staff group within the Hep C Managed Care Network being trained to screen & deliver ABIs.
The desired outcome is to embed the delivery of ABI into the core practice of staff involved in the detection and treatment of Hepatitis C.
Delivery Model: Opportunistic screening and delivery of ABI.
Supporting Factors: Support from Hepatitis C Managed Care Network Clinical Lead
Challenges: None identified
Contact details:
Eleanor McWhirter
ABI Lead
NHS Lothian
Eleanor.McWhirter@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Smoking Cessation Service
Summary: Due to links between smoking relapse rates and the use of alcohol, Stop Smoking staff across Lothian have been trained to screen and deliver ABIs.
The aims of this work are to embed the delivery of ABI into the core practice of stop smoking staff in relation to smoking cessation and relapse prevention.
Delivery Model: Opportunistic screening and delivery of ABI.
Supporting Factors: Support from the Smoking Cessation Coordinator for Lothian.
Challenges: None yet identified.
Contact details:
Eleanor McWhirter
ABI Lead
NHS Lothian
Eleanor.McWhirter@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
NHS Tayside
For information about the overall approach to delivery of ABI in NHS Tayside email kirsty.licence@nhs.net
Sexual Health and Reproductive service
Summary: The desired outcome was the identification and onward referral of dependent drinkers accessing the sexual health service, particularly young people expressing regret around sexual behaviour undertaken whilst intoxicated. Staff from Sexual Health & Reproductive service deliver the brief interventions to young people at the harmful or hazardous stage of drinking and refer them to the Alcohol Liaison service where appropriate.
Delivery Model: Opportunistic screening and delivery of ABIs.
Supporting Factors: Enthusiasm of clinical leaders and staff within the sexual health service and support from local H4 leaders were the main supporting factors.
Challenges: Agreeing a workable pathway and data collection process proved to be the main challenge.
Contact details:
Jayne Roberts
Alcohol Programme Manager
NHS Tayside
jroberts8@nhs.net