James Brewster-Liddle and colleagues have reduced the number of intoxicated people who attend their emergency unit
In the emergency unit at University Hospital of Wales (UHW), Cardiff, a rise in the number of patients presenting with alcohol intoxication was reducing the amount of clinical space available to, and affecting the care of, other patients. In response, an alcohol treatment centre (ATC) staffed by emergency nurse practitioners, healthcare assistants and police officers was set up and piloted for three months in the city centre to ensure that people who were severely intoxicated could be managed safely without attending the emergency unit at UHW. This article describes the collaborative approach adopted to launch the three-month pilot project and discusses findings from a review of the ATC conducted when the pilot had ended. These findings indicate that severely intoxicated patients at low or moderate risk had been diverted from the emergency unit to the ATC and that clinical care in the unit, and police and ambulance services, had improved as a result.
Emergency Nurse. 21, 6, 14-18. doi: 10.7748/en2013.10.21.6.14.s17
Correspondencejames.brewster-liddle@wales.nhs.uk
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 27 March 2013
Accepted: 29 July 2013
or
Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now
Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more