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| Hospitals 'do not probe drinking' | Hospitals 'do not probe drinking' |
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| Most A&E departments in England do not identify problem drinkers or offer them long-term help when they seek treatment, a study says. | Most A&E departments in England do not identify problem drinkers or offer them long-term help when they seek treatment, a study says. |
| A survey of all casualty departments, published in Emergency Medicine Journal, found 87% did not ask any questions about alcohol consumption. | |
| This did not appear to affect treatment on the spot, but meant people were not offered sources of long-term help. | This did not appear to affect treatment on the spot, but meant people were not offered sources of long-term help. |
| Only four of the 191 hospitals formally assessed dangerous drinking. | Only four of the 191 hospitals formally assessed dangerous drinking. |
| "Research has found that up to 40% of people attending A&E departments would benefit from help or advice about their drinking," said the study, conducted by Bob Patton of the National Addiction Centre. | "Research has found that up to 40% of people attending A&E departments would benefit from help or advice about their drinking," said the study, conducted by Bob Patton of the National Addiction Centre. |
| By taking the time to formally test patients in this way, we may actually prevent re-attendance Lesley King-LewisAction on Addiction | By taking the time to formally test patients in this way, we may actually prevent re-attendance Lesley King-LewisAction on Addiction |
| "Yet as staff are not using formal screening tools to measure alcohol-related harm, the hazardous drinkers may not get the help they need because they aren't being asked questions about their alcohol use." | "Yet as staff are not using formal screening tools to measure alcohol-related harm, the hazardous drinkers may not get the help they need because they aren't being asked questions about their alcohol use." |
| Such screening would involve performing blood alcohol tests from those arriving in A&E. | Such screening would involve performing blood alcohol tests from those arriving in A&E. |
| However Action on Addiction, which endorses the report, accepted that these were busy departments where the main priority was providing urgent treatment. | However Action on Addiction, which endorses the report, accepted that these were busy departments where the main priority was providing urgent treatment. |
| But Chief Executive Lesley King-Lewis added: "By taking the time to formally test patients in this way, we may actually prevent re-attendance." | But Chief Executive Lesley King-Lewis added: "By taking the time to formally test patients in this way, we may actually prevent re-attendance." |
| The Department of Health argues there is only limited evidence as to the value of offering alcohol advice within A&E, but says it is commissioning additional research. | The Department of Health argues there is only limited evidence as to the value of offering alcohol advice within A&E, but says it is commissioning additional research. |
| Alcohol admissions | Alcohol admissions |
| A study last week suggested that alcohol-related A&E admissions in inner-city areas had trebled since the introduction of the new licensing laws in November 2005 that allowed for extended opening. | A study last week suggested that alcohol-related A&E admissions in inner-city areas had trebled since the introduction of the new licensing laws in November 2005 that allowed for extended opening. |
| But the research, which centred on just one London hospital, was dismissed by many as unrepresentative. | But the research, which centred on just one London hospital, was dismissed by many as unrepresentative. |
| Anecdotal evidence from some NHS trusts does not suggest a rise - and there is even evidence of a reduction in alcohol-related admissions in some areas. | Anecdotal evidence from some NHS trusts does not suggest a rise - and there is even evidence of a reduction in alcohol-related admissions in some areas. |
| However many hospitals, as seen in this latest study, do not record whether an admission is alcohol-related or not. | However many hospitals, as seen in this latest study, do not record whether an admission is alcohol-related or not. |