Services that Manage the Care Needs of Drunk - Scottish Government

police custody suites in parallel with medical support from a forensic medical
examiner. 121
4.30 In all three studies, nurses provided the initial contact and triage assessment
of police detainees. Nurses were responsible for undertaking assessments,
conducting clinical procedures and carrying out on-going monitoring of
detainees’ health and behaviour. Referrals were made to the FME or hospital
where necessary. All studies found that the use of custody nurses can
improve the operational efficiency of health care services offered in police
custody suites. One study found that nurses had faster response times,
comparable consultation times and were perceived by custody staff as more
approachable than their medical colleagues in providing handover
information. 122
4.31 It is perhaps worth mentioning that this same study analysed the time nurses
spent on different tasks, and similar to the studies of FMEs described above,
the vast majority of the work of the nurses (approximately 90%) involved
assessing an individual’s fitness to be detained and / or interviewed by the
police.
Temporary places of safety, mobile units and SOS buses
4.32 Finally, a model of service which is being used increasingly to meet the needs
of drunk and incapable people in the UK, involves the use of a mobile service
or a specially adapted bus.
Mobile Medical Response Unit, Cardiff
4.33 The Mobile Medical Response Unit (MMRU) in Cardiff is an example of the
former. 123 This service comprises a triage vehicle staffed by a driver and
paramedic, which is supported by a number of patient transportation vehicles
provided by St John Ambulance Service and the Welsh Ambulance Trust. The
MMRU has a police radio and can respond to 999 calls directly. On certain
occasions of high demand, the service operates in conjunction with a
temporary treatment centre (a first-aid post located in the Millennium Stadium),
where people with minor injuries can be referred. Patients who require further
treatment are referred to the local emergency department.
4.34 In its first year of operation (Dec 2004 – Dec 2005), the MMRU was available
on 17 occasions, and the treatment centre also operated on eight of those
occasions, during periods of peak demand such as during the festive season,
bank holidays or sporting events. Alcohol was reported to be a factor in 96%
of incidents dealt with by the service.
4.35 A formal evaluation of the service concluded that it provided patients with a
rapid and effective means of dealing with minor injuries, while freeing up
emergency resources (police, ambulance and emergency departments). It
121
Evans & McGilvray, 1996; Young et al, 1994; Bond et al, 2007.
122
Bond et al, 2007.
123
John, 2006
37