Greater Manchester NHS detox service shortlisted for national award
A Greater Manchester service that aims to tackle repeat attendance and increased presentations to Accident and Emergency departments by people living with alcohol problems has been recognised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in their annual awards shortlist.
Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s RADAR (Rapid Alcohol Detox Acute Hospital Referrals) service has been shortlisted for “Psychiatric Team of the Year Award: Non-age specific” at the 2014 RCPsych Awards to be held in London 6 November 2014.
The Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust’s service, based at the Chapman-Barker Unit in Prestwich, is the first of its kind in the country and the Trust are one of only three in with the chance of winning the prestigious award.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists Awards, now in their sixth year, mark the highest level of achievement within psychiatry and are designed to award excellent practice within the field of mental health.
The Trust’s RADAR service tackles the issue of repeat stays in Accident and Emergency wards by people will alcohol addictions. RADAR accommodates the needs of multiple patients, with a recovery plan tailored to their individual needs. The 8 bed ward takes referrals from 11 acute hospitals across Greater Manchester and is a pathway for patients with alcohol problems to recover from alcohol misuse.
In the past 12 months, the RADAR ward has had over 339 admissions. The combined benefits of reducing admissions to acute hospitals and reducing presentations to Accident and Emergency departments, while addressing the underlying problems for each patient with correct support, has meant that the service has filled a gap that was missing.
There are one in eight NHS beds taken up by alcohol related diseases and 35% of Accident and Emergency cases are alcohol related (with 70% between the hours of midnight and 5am). The RADAR programme has a 97% successful detox rate and 75% of people discharged from the RADAR ward are not admitted to hospital services in the following three months.
Early findings from an independent evaluation by Liverpool John Moores University, has estimated that the service could save the NHS c. £2M based on 80% occupancy at the unit.
The service has been a lifeline for some families with a former patient of RADAR saying the work of the team brought him back from the brink: “Only a couple of months ago, I was on the verge of suicide. With no hope in my heart or faith in anyone or anything in life. I had even given up feeling sorry for myself and believe me – I have been notoriously good at self-pity”.
“Now I am feeling full of hope. The team has worked tirelessly for me. I am still abstinent from alcohol since entering the ward and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity and the amazing staff – I even got some inspiration from fellow patients!”
The winner will be selected from the shortlist and announced at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Awards Ceremony to be held in London on 6 November 2014. The Award Ceremony will bring together psychiatrists, allied mental health professionals, and service user and carer representatives.
ENDS
Notes for editors
1. Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust provides district mental health services in Bolton, Salford and Trafford. It also provides inpatient alcohol and drug recovery services in Prestwich as well as community services in Trafford, Salford, Cumbria, Blackburn with Darwen, Wigan and Leigh and Central Lancashire.
2. RADAR is a service in Greater Manchester that tackles the issue of repeat stays in Accident & Emergency wards by people living with alcohol addictions.
3. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional and educational body for psychiatrists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. They aim to; set standards and promote excellence in psychiatry and mental healthcare; lead, represent and support psychiatrists and work with service users, carers and their organisations.
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