Pictured left to right: Charise Xaba (ACT support worker); Manish Bhasin (BBC presenter); Abbie Hill (ACT nurse); Jane Crawford (ACT team leader); Sarah Owens (ACT nurse); Michele Harper (Trust COO)
Growing from one nurse specialist to a team of 8 nursing staff in just a year, the alcohol care team has already made a significant contribution to patient care by combining elements of education, prevention, treatment, and recovery within alcohol misuse treatment pathways.
The team believe their success is down to a mix of high motivation and a focus on visibility, with a spokesperson saying:
“We make sure we are really visible on the wards and in corridors, so that referrals are as easy as they possibly can be. We have made ourselves known among staff and we build a good relationship with all our patients.
“The service is ward-based and patients see us for example after they have fallen and ended up in hospital. A member of staff will suggest we have a chat with them, and we take it from there.”
Staff come from a general adult nursing background. They keep close contact with mental health and community teams, supporting patients during their stay in hospital and helping to then plug any potential gaps in care as they are discharged.
Patients are supported to identify that they have a problem with drinking and to learn about the potential consequences. The aim is to catch people before they become seriously unwell and to help them stay at home once they are discharged with referrals straight to rehab or other support.
The team won the Trust’s Delivery award as well as the overall 'winner of winners' award.
Yorkshire and Humber RCN is keen to celebrate your nursing successes, get in touch if you have a success or celebration to share with other members, email sally.cooper@rcn.org.uk.
