Alcohol Services - Alcohol and Substances Care Team

Alcohol and Substances Care Teams are specialist staff that can support you to:

• Recognise the impact that alcohol and substances have on your physical health, mental health, relationships and other matters
• Reduce or manage the risks of harm associated with alcohol and substance use
• Reduce or manage your alcohol and substance use or become substance-free
• Access the right support and help for you in the community

Alcohol and Substances Care Teams do this by undertaking a specialist assessment of your needs, by delivering talking therapies (psychosocial interventions) and by liaising with and referring on to hospital-based and community services.

Some teams are able to undertake assertive outreach and to support patients that have started a detox in hospital to complete it at home. Whether this service is available will depend on your area of residence and your suitability for the service.

Alcohol and Substances Care Teams also work with relatives and carers, providing them with support and guidance.

The Best Possible Outcomes for Patients

The shared vision of our Alcohol and Substances Care Teams is to ensure early identification and safe and effective management of alcohol use for all patients presenting for treatment at any of our hospitals.

It is estimated that substance-related harm costs the UK £25 billion pound every year with £3.5 billion being attributed to the NHS. Approximately 180,000 hospital admissions and 35% of attendances in A&E departments are alcohol related.

An estimated 15,000 to 22,000 deaths each year are associated with alcohol, which includes young people as well as adults. We want to minimise the impact substances have on our patient’s lives and prevent alcohol-related deaths.

Substances have a significant impact on our lives, including: short and long-term damage to physical and mental health, breakdown of relationships, dependency/addiction behaviours such as drinking to prevent withdrawal, foetal alcohol syndrome (foetal alcohol syndrome effects babies if pregnant women drink alcohol during pregnancy) and leads to premature death.

Our service aims to reduce and prevent substance-related: A&E attendances, reduce hospital admissions and to reduce the length of stay on wards, therefore reducing associated physical and financial costs.

Children and Young People

All children and young people under the age of 18 will be screened for drug or alcohol use. Appropriate actions will be taken to support them to reduce or cease their use of substances that can damage their health.

This will include being referred to a community based young people’s alcohol and drug treatment service. This action is taken in order to protect and safeguard young people.

The community based young people’s service will make contact and offer an appointment for an assessment. Services are free and confidential and provide education and support around substance use.

Alcohol Units

There is no completely safe level of drinking. However, adults are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units spread out over 3 or more days. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the only safe approach is not to drink alcohol at all.

This is one unit:
 

The benefits of cutting down:

Physical/Psychological/Social/Financial

• Reduced risk of injury
• Reduced risk of high blood pressure
• Reduced risk of cancer
• Reduced risks of liver disease
• Reduced risks of brain damage
• Reduce risky behaviour
• Sleep better and have more energy
• Improved relationships
• Lose weight
• No hangovers
• Improved memory and mood
• Save money
• Improve fertility

Ideas to help you to cut down

• Switch to low alcohol beer/lager
• Plan activities and tasks at those times you usually drink
• When bored or stressed have a workout instead of drinking
• Explore other interests such as cinema, exercise, etc.
• Avoid going to the pub after work
• Have your first drink after starting to eat
• Quench your thirst with non-alcohol drinks before alcohol
• Avoid drinking in rounds or in large groups
• Take smaller sips
• Avoid or limit the time spent with “heavy” drinking friends

Our Standard Opening Hours are:

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding Bank Holidays.

Contacts

The Royal Oldham Hospital Alcohol and Substances Care Team - 0161 656 1933

Rochdale Infirmary Alcohol and Substances Care Team - 01706 517522 /01706 517102

Fairfield General Hospital Alcohol Care Team - 0161 716 1056

Salford Royal Hospital Alcohol and Substances Care Team - 0161 206 0528

Northern Care Alliance Lead Nurse for Alcohol Services - 07837 534073