Agenda item

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which introduced a presentation from Halton and St. Helens Primary Care Trust on its approach to alcohol treatment services in Halton.

The Board received a presentation from Professor Sue Milner, Deputy Director of Public Health and Strategic Lead from the Alcohol Programme across Halton and St. Helens, which set out:

·        the local picture in Halton;

·        the Alcohol Strategy for Halton and St. Helens;

·        other key documents including the CYP Substance Misuse Treatment Plan and Commissioning Strategy for the PCT;

·        the review of health related alcohol services;

·        the alcohol programme which had been commissioned by an Alcohol Commissioning Group;

·        the impact of reducing per capita consumption of alcohol;

·        adult framework for future pathways;

·        the children’s framework; and

·        the projected costs of the project.

Arising from Members’ comments and concerns the following was noted:

• the number of young people effected by hazardous drinking was in the low 100’s and that generally speaking fewer young people were drinking, the problem was that those who do drink, drink more than the 4-8 units recommended, which was technically binge drinking.
• whether GP’s carry out blood tests to check for alcohol levels. In response it was noted that this would not be effective, as alcohol levels in blood tests only show if the person had been drinking the night before the test. GP’s were contractually obliged to ask new patients to complete questionnaires, which included questions regarding alcohol intake levels. However, there was a need to roll this out across all patients;
• whether a minimum price on alcohol would make a difference to drinking levels. In response it was noted that in Countries where alcohol was not readily available and enforcement levels were high, there were lower drinking rates than the UK. It was therefore felt that it would be advantageous to remove high alcohol content drinks out of the system. This did not mean people could not drink the same volume of drink but that would have a lower alcohol content level.

Mr D. Parr, Chief Executive, attended the meeting and gave Members an update on a (insert name of meeting?) meeting between Government Office North West, the Strategic Health Authority, Police, retailers and local authorities, which had been held to open a dialogue between the trade and responsible authorities.

It was noted that this was a particular issue in Halton, as mortality rates were higher in Halton than neighbouring authorities and it had the highest alcohol related admissions in the Country, for men into hospital and the second highest for women.

Members were advised that Halton had committed to taking part in a number of interventions which would enable the Council to look at alternative methods of maintaining the night time economy while reducing levels of hazardous drinking in the Borough.

The Board thanked Ms Milner for her presentation and her work in the Borough and wished her well for the future.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the presentation be received; and

(2)       the comments on the PCT on its approach to alcohol treatment in Halton be noted.