Role for MDT Alcohol Care Teams in addressing alcohol crisis explored
Alcohol services in Ireland are currently fragmented, prompting clinicians to advocate for a more cohesive approach, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach.
Almost 200 individuals participated in a recent virtual meeting addressing the alcohol crisis in Ireland, organized by Prof John Ryan, a Consultant Hepatologist at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and an Associate Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
Prof Ryan was accompanied by his colleagues, Prof Siobhan MacHale, a Consultant Psychiatrist at Beaumont Hospital, and Dr Hugh Gallagher, the GP Co-ordinator in the Health Service Executive (HSE) Addiction Service in Dublin North City & County.
Prof Ryan highlighted the fragmented nature of alcohol services in Ireland and suggested that a more unified approach could lead to better outcomes.
Ireland has the fifth-highest rate of alcohol-related harm in Europe, resulting in significant costs to the healthcare system. Data from Beaumont Hospital reveals that a substantial percentage of Emergency Department presentations and Intensive Care Unit admissions are alcohol-related.
The burden of alcohol-related issues in Ireland is substantial, with increasing rates of liver disease across all age groups and a significant portion of the population engaging in harmful drinking habits.
Prof Ryan proposed the establishment of Alcohol Care Teams (ACTs) as a potential solution to alleviate the strain on the healthcare system. These teams would be consultant-led, multidisciplinary, and patient-centered, operating seamlessly across primary and secondary care.
Prof MacHale, drawing on her extensive experience in Liaison Psychiatry, emphasized the need for early detection and intervention in cases of alcohol abuse. She highlighted the challenges faced in managing alcohol-related issues in hospital settings and stressed the importance of timely diagnosis for improved outcomes.
Dr Gallagher reiterated the importance of a collaborative team approach in primary and secondary care settings to address alcohol dependency effectively. He emphasized the role of GPs in screening for alcohol misuse and the significance of early intervention in patient care.
The meeting concluded with a call to action for the establishment of Alcohol Care Teams in hospitals across Ireland, with a focus on integrated, multidisciplinary care.
For more information on developing alcohol services in Ireland, interested parties can contact Prof John Ryan at alcoholservice@beaumont.ie.
This educational meeting was funded by Kyowa Kirin Ltd to support medical services, with no influence on the content except for accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements.
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