Improving identification and brief advice for alcohol in hospital patients: a new sustainable model using medicine management technicians

Alcohol identification and brief advice (IBA) is effective for reducing increased risk alcohol consumption, but systematic sustainable screening systems in hospitals are often lacking. University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust implemented a trust-wide IBA system by integrating it into a patient's medicines reconciliation review undertaken by medicines management technicians (MMTs) on admission. After an initial pilot, this model was rolled out across the trust and has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of patients screened and accurately coded for alcohol use. Surveys of MMTs have shown their confidence and competence in asking patients about their alcohol has increased since implementation.