A&E patients ‘need to address alcohol intake’

MORE than half of patients attending emergency & departments (ED) who are not obviously drunk need to address their alcohol consumption, a study argues.

Almost 1,000 people attending EDs & in four hospitals around the country participated in the voluntary alcohol screening programme, which excluded those who were obviously intoxicated on arrival.

The screening programme found that 11% of respondents needed a referral to a specialist service because of their drinking, while brief advice was offered to a further 42% over their drinking habits.