Two senior clinical staff at the Trust whose work now informs best practice for alcohol care teams across the NHS, have been honoured with visiting professorships by a leading university in Wales.
Consultant toxicologist Sally Bradberry and nurse consultant Arlene Copland, who are part of the Trust’s Alcohol Care Team (ACT), received the recognition from the University of South Wales. The two have been collaborating with the university’s psychology department on research into alcohol-related brain disorders for over a year.
“We are honoured and excited to have received this title as a reflection of the collaboration between ourselves and colleagues at the University of South Wales,” said Arlene.
“Most professorships are offered to medics and academics, but rarely to nurses. For the expertise of a senior clinical nurse to be recognised in this way is unusual and I feel incredibly proud.”
The Trust’s innovative approach to improving the care and management of patients with alcohol-related issues has earned them national acclaim.
The team scooped the prestigious Nursing Times emergency and critical care national award early this year after reducing the number of patients who were admitted to hospital for their alcohol addiction. The patients were instead offered an effective alternative which met their holistic needs.
Led by Arlene, who is a former NHS England Lead Alcohol Nurse, the service has been lauded for its work in challenging the stigma often faced by those with alcohol-related problems. The team’s mission is to enhance understanding and management of addiction, an area frequently misunderstood by clinicians.
“We have gained national recognition as the first ACT to demonstrate the vulnerability of our patient population and the impact of this service within an acute setting.
“Our data set is now shared with ACTs throughout England, enabling them to better evidence their outcomes,” Arlene explained.
Through their collaboration with the university, Arlene and Sally have been able to further research and publish their findings in peer-reviewed literature. This has helped spread awareness of their innovative and impactful work beyond their local region.
Professor John Smith, Head of the Department of Psychology at the University of South Wales, praised the pair’s dedication and expertise. “Sally and Arlene have been fantastic partners, bringing invaluable real-world experience and insights that have enriched our research. We are delighted to recognise their contributions with these visiting professor titles.”
The team has prevented approximately 1,950 bed days in the first four years of the initiative and the number of admissions for acute withdrawal reduced from 1.66 per cent of all acute admissions, to 0.68 per cent. And patient satisfaction is high – with 100 per cent surveyed saying they are happy with their care and would recommend the service.
By improving the understanding and management of alcohol-related issues, the service has been able to provide more effective and compassionate care to a vulnerable patient population.