MANAGEMENT OF ALCOHOL-ABUSING PATIENTS IN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

A pilot study was undertaken in the Accident & Emergency (A & E) depar tments of two central London teaching hospitals to determine if patien ts who were abusing alcohol and had not received any prior medical tre atment or counselling for their drinking problem were amenable to offe rs of help. During the 24-month study period 104 patients were identif ied as having a previously untreated alcohol problem, and of these 46% attended an appointment to discuss their drinking habits. The group i dentified was much smaller than would be expected from the number atte nding the A & E departments during the study period and the reasons fo r this are discussed. However, the important observation from the stud y is that almost half the patients identified as having an alcohol pro blem returned to the department the following day to seek advice. This suggests that A & E departments are an appropriate place to offer pat ients initial help about their drinking habits.