Smokers and problems drinkers who are admitted to hospital in England will be given help to quit or cut down to reduce demands on the health service. This is part of the NHS long-term plan to be announced over the next few days by NHS England.
It said addiction to alcohol and tobacco were two of the biggest causes of ill health and early death. The right support could save lives and help people stay fitter for longer. Health charity Ash said they were delighted by the plans whilst the Public Health England called the move “smart”.
Alcohol-related harm costs the NHS in England around £3.5 billion every year and admissions to the hospital have grown by 17%. In 2016/17 there were an estimated 337,000 hospital admissions that were alcohol related.
The scheme has come alongside action on obesity and diabetes as part of a renewed focus on preventions that will benefit patients. Alcohol Care Teams will be rolled out in hospitals with the highest number of alcohol related admissions and will support patients and their families who have problems with alcohol misuse. This will be delivered in the 25% worst affected parts of the country and could prevent 50,000 admissions and almost 250,000 beds a day over five years.
Announcing the plans, NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: “Drinking to excess can destroy families, with the NHS too often left to pick up the pieces.
“Alcohol and tobacco addiction remain two of the biggest causes of ill health and early death, and the right support can save lives.
“The NHS long term plan delivers a sea-change in care for a range of major conditions like cancer, mental ill health and heart disease, as well as stepping up to do more on preventing ill health in the first place by giving patients the support they need to take greater control of their own health and stay fitter longer.”
Alcohol Care Teams in Bolton, Salford, Nottingham, Liverpool, London and Portsmouth have already seen a reduction in A&E attendances, bed days, readmissions and ambulance call outs have expressively reduced.
Teams will work with the local community services to ensure all needs are met. Advice sessions last for 20-40 minutes and involves personal feedback to people about their level of health risk because of alcohol consumption, practical advice about reducing the alcohol consumption.
Every smoker that is admitted to hospital will be offered the NHS support to quit and this will also include every patient who is receiving long term support from specialist mental health and learning disability services.
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of health charity ASH, said: “From cancer to cardio-vascular and respiratory disease, dementia to diabetes, and maternity to mental health, stopping smoking improves patients’ life expectancy and quality of life and reduces pressure on our overburdened NHS. So we’re delighted the NHS long-term plan includes provision of support to stop smoking for pregnant women, people with mental health conditions and all patients admitted to hospital. We look forward to publication of the detailed plans, and the timetable for implementation.”
Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive, Public Health England said: “Investing in prevention is the smartest thing the NHS can do. Tobacco kills 1500 people a week so helping people to quit when admitted to hospital helps them, their families and the taxpayer. And it is equally smart for hospitals to have new expertise focused on supporting the most alcohol dependent people. Both measures announced today will save thousands of lives and help the NHS remain sustainable into future years.”
