Project
Bristol Hospital Based Alcohol Nurse Specialist
Description:
United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT) appointed a full-time Alcohol Nurse Specialist (ANS) in October 2006. The full-time role was developed after a part-time pilot in the Hepatology Unit had proved cost-effective through a reduction in readmission rates and had led to positive health outcomes.
The ANS has implemented the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire and provided teaching in administration, interpretation and delivering brief interventions in 6 target wards at UBHT. These include hepatology, medical gastroenterology, surgical gastroenterology, surgical and trauma/orthapaedics.
By June 2007 all staff on target wards had been given training on delivering brief interventions to hazardous drinkers. The ANS has developed a patient information leaflet which staff are encouraged to use to back up their interventional work. All patients identified as harmful drinkers (16-40 AUDIT score) are offered formal referral to the ANS.
In addition to her role in delivering Screening and Brief Interventions training and advice the ANS has worked successfully in several other areas across the Trust. Notable examples show that the ANS has:
- Developed and managed a nurse-led alcohol clinic.
- Provided clinical advice and support with regards to alcohol detoxification, patient safety and comfort and discharge planning to all health care professional within the Trust.
- Referred patients for admission for detoxification or medical/surgical or psychiatric assessment, where appropriate.
- Organised the first UBHT Alcohol Awareness Day in December 2006. The success of which led to a further awareness day in September 2007.
The ANS has also further consolidated liaison previously developed with the voluntary agencies and alcohol services in Bristol, including local NHS specialist alcohol treatment units such as the Robert Smith Unit. An Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting is now held every Monday on the UBHT site. UBHT is fortunate to have an AA Link Worker who is in regular contact with the ANS. So far over 30-patients have accessed this service at no cost to the Trust.
Notably, this project has attracted attention from both local and national media as an example of good practice. A television profile of the ANS has been featured on BBC Breakfast News and the Politics Show.
Project status: Ongoing
Project type: Screening and brief intervention
Project code: QAM2
