Dudley Strategy for Tackling Health Inequalities 2010-15

These include:Securing additional investment to reach the reduction in alcohol relatedadmissions target identified in the local strategic plan. The additionalinvestment allows the introduction of a locally enhanced service (LES) inPrimary Care and to increase the capacity of the Tier Two specialist alcoholtreatment service to deal with increased referrals from Primary Care. Togetherwith the additional A&E alcohol liaison nurse these should begin to impact onCHD, hypertension, stroke, cancer and liver disease, thereby releasingresources to be invested in other health services. The increased investmentwill reduce health inequalities in relation to differences in life expectancy andinfant mortality across Dudley and contribute to reducing obesity levels,teenage pregnancy and domestic abuse.Undertaking training needs analysis to allow planning for the introduction ofIdentification and Brief Advice (IBA) across the health economy and partnerorganisations. IBA has a strong evidence base and has been shown to beeffective in reducing alcohol consumption in harmful and hazardous drinkers.Frontline staff will be offered training in identification and brief advice (IBA) toenable more people who are drinking at harmful or hazardous levels to beidentified earlier and referred into community services rather than intohospital.Work has already begun on a service review of the Tier Two provision and toput in place improved referral pathways as a start to achieving integratedalcohol service provision. An equality impact assessment of services willidentify access issues and ensure that service provision is equitable for allgroups.Undertaking a review of alcohol workplace policies, initially for the LocalAuthority, PCT and the NHS Trust and then offering support to all otheremployers in the Borough. This will help to tackle the sickness absencecaused by alcohol and its impact on productivity. Alcohol awareness traininghas been identified as a priority for all staff and contractors who deal with thepublic across all partner organisations, including the voluntary sector.117