Project
Torbay Primary Care Alcohol Service
Description:
A new primary care alcohol service was set up by Torbay Care Trust in October 2007. The aim of the service is to reduce the level of hazardous, harmful and dependent drinkers within Torbay.
Historically, Torbay had alcohol provision solely from a tier 3 specialist service with two full-time workers. The service was greatly oversubscribed and there was no open access service provision in the area. This primary care initiative has been established to address this issue and complements the existing specialist service available.
The new team consists of 3 Primary Care Alcohol Workers (each based within an area of Torbay within the health and social care team), 1 Senior Alcohol Worker and 1 Referrals Co-ordinator. The project serves several functions, including:
- An open access tier 2 alcohol service, for advice, information and support
- Screening and triage assessment of all alcohol referrals within Torbay
- Onward referral to the specialist alcohol team for dependent drinkers.
- Tier 3 structured brief interventions for hazardous and harmful drinkers (a maximum of five session in combination with self-help workbooks)
- An on-site alcohol worker at the local district general hospital. The aim of this work is to provide advice, information, support or assessment for any patients where alcohol use is of concern.
- Provision of a website that provides information on all local alcohol services, general advice, self-help material, self screening (using AUDIT) and on line referral options.
The project has recently attained funding to appoint an additional alcohol worker for a 12-month criminal justice work pilot. This post will be split between joint work with the probation service as part of a 'Specific Alcohol Requirement', conditional cautioning in conjunction with Cornwall and Devon police and part-time community based work.
From September 2008, the service will also provide a training programme for tier 1 staff in Torbay. The monthly sessions will train staff in the use of the AUDIT tool, how to do a five minute brief intervention and how to refer on to the Primary Care Alcohol Service.
Project status: Ongoing
Project type: Screening and brief intervention
Project code: U9VA
