United Kingdom: New ‘alcohol harm’ commission seeks evidence from nurses
By Gemma Mitchell
January 6, 2020
Nurses are being asked to share their experiences of the consequences of alcohol abuse as part of a new independent inquiry seeking to shine a light on the true costs of excessive drinking in the UK.
Launched today, the Commission on Alcohol Harm is issuing a call for evidence from health professionals and is particularly interested in hearing from nurses who often witness the effects of alcohol overuse on a daily basis at work.
Made up of a panel of different experts and chaired by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, the commission will examine the current evidence on alcohol harm, recent trends and potential solutions to reduce alcohol damage at UK-level.
The group will also examine the need for a new nationwide alcohol strategy, which was last updated in 2012.
Last summer, professional bodies including the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives wrote a letter calling on the government to make producing a new alcohol strategy a priority amid mounting concern over the issue.
Figures show that while alcohol-related hospital admissions and deaths are on the rise, fewer people are accessing vital rehabilitation treatment.
In England, alcohol services have suffered under public health cuts after commissioning moved to local authorities.
In their letter, the professional bodies warned that alcohol abuse posed an “escalating risk to public health” and demanded an “updated and ambitious national alcohol strategy”.
While the Commission on Alcohol Harm will not be creating a strategy, members hope their work will provide the impetus needed for national leaders to start the process.
The commission will hold three oral evidence sessions across the UK later this year as well as taking written submissions.
The findings will be drawn together in a report, which is expected to be complete by May 2020, and will be sent to the UK government with the intention of informing developments in alcohol policy.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, which is supporting the commission, said this was an opportunity to “build a solid case for change”.
“The Commission on Alcohol Harm is an extremely important investigation into how all parts of our society are impacted by our drinking habits,” he added.
“We need to have voices representing the wide range of experiences of alcohol harm; including those on the frontline, researchers and those with first-hand experience of alcohol harm.”
Commission chair Baroness Finlay said input from those with professional or personal experience of alcohol harm would help the commission make “meaningful recommendations on a vision for the future”.
Helen Donovan, RCN professional lead for public health, welcomed the launch of the commission as a “postive step” and one that the college hoped would inform the development of a new alcohol strategy.
Labelling the problem a “growing public health concern”, Ms Donovan said nurses saw the “terrible impact” of alcohol abuse every day of the week.
“The views and the experience of nurses on the front line to dealing with the aftermath of alcohol abuse will provide a valuable insight to the commission as it seeks new ways to prevent the harm caused by alcohol,” she added.
“We will be making clear the impact that nursing shortages and public health cuts have had on the ability of nurses to deliver services to those that need it most.
“We hope this will in turn lead to a long-term strategy to address the growing impact alcohol is having on the health of the nation.”
To submit evidence, email: harms_commission@ahauk.org by 17 February 2020.
Submission guidelines can be found here.