USW and NHS partnership bridge research and addiction care gap

The University of South Wales (USW) has partnered with Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) to evaluate their award-winning Alcohol Care Team and promote awareness of alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD).

Since 2015, the Addictions Research Group at USW has been producing research at an international level. Their work spans awareness raising, prevention, early identification and diagnosis, and treatment development. The group has played a leading role in the development of a first-of-its-kind national action plan to support and treat ARBD, an under-recognised condition which reflects long-term effects of alcohol on the brain.

Across the border, SWB leads the way in alcohol service delivery. As one of the first alcohol care teams established in the UK, it was used as a ‘gold standard’ case study by NHS England and is widely considered a national leader for the delivery of high-quality care for those living with alcohol-use disorders. Since its inception in 2018, the team has grown both in numbers and expertise, and has been awarded various accolades, including a Nursing Times Award.

This national partnership has created a bridge between service expertise and academia, complementing the existing skills within the Alcohol Care Team through access to expertise in addiction psychology, data analysis, production of evidence-based recommendations, and ARBD.

The aim of the collaboration is to evaluate the Alcohol Care Team activities, help promote their impactful care model among academic and health care audiences, and to pursue future research and funding opportunities that will lead to improvements in care for patients.

In addition, SWB has been provided with an ARBD online training course. Designed by USW researchers, the training will be rolled out nationally to raise awareness and understanding of the condition.

In celebration of this collaboration, the partnership has been short-listed for a National Institute for Health and Care Research, Clinical Research Network award in the category of collaboration/partnership in research.

Darren Quelch, USW Senior Research Assistant, said: “The Alcohol Care Team at SWB are innovators in their field. Promoting their approach to providing care for this vulnerable, and often overlooked group, is crucial for development of national improvements to the management of alcohol-use disorders.

“Central to the collaboration is the development of evidence-based practice recommendations for wider implementation. The research and innovation techniques employed by the both the USW and Alcohol Care Teams are directly transferrable to similar teams and care settings. The research that is currently underway has been vital in demonstrating this impact.”

Arlene Copland, Lead ACT nurse said: “We are aware that there are many people at risk of ARBD and this is worrying. This condition is often hard to diagnose so it is vitally important that we raise awareness and that patients are put on a recognised treatment plan. ARBD is caused by a person regularly drinking too much alcohol or binge-drinking over several years and people whose diet has a low nutritional value are most at risk. Generally, symptoms of ARBD affect people aged between 40 and 50 but can be older than this.

“By working with the Addictions Research Group and implementing the training, we will improve care for our patients who present with this condition. We know that if a person stops drinking, remains alcohol free and receives good support they may be able to make a partial or even full recovery.”

Professor Sally Bradberry, Director for the National Poisons Information Service based at City Hospital, added: “We are delighted to be working with colleagues from the Addictions Research Group and for the recognition from the Clinical Research Network.

“Dr Darren Quelch and his colleagues Professors Bev John and Gareth Roderique-Davies have, in just three months, provided unrivalled insight, expertise and enthusiasm that has transformed the academic output and research vision of the Alcohol Care Team. We are excited and inspired by the opportunities this collaboration presents for future academic studies and service developments to improve the care of patients whose health is adversely affected by alcohol.”

The collaboration came about after Kelly Hard, the Trust’s Head of Research and Development facilitated the partnership.

Prof Bradberry added: “We are indebted to Kelly Hard.”