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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Steven MassonORCiD, Professor Amy O'DonnellORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press.Aims: This study aimed to identify (i) the number of alcohol care teams (ACTs) in England, (ii) the characteristics of patients supported by ACTs, and (iii) the service structure and care components offered by ACTs. Methods: All acute hospitals (i.e. those providing short-term high-dependency medical care) in England were approached to complete a survey of alcohol care provision. Surveys were completed through researcher-guided interviews by staff familiar with the hospital’s alcohol provision. It featured questions on service structure, patient characteristics, service functions, and policies. Data collection took place between May and October 2023. Results: Of 170 hospitals approached, 122 completed a survey and 80 reported having an ACT. Most ACT patients were male (mean 64.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 61.8–66.4), white (mean 79.2%; 95% CI 75.1–83.4), aged 45–54 (mean 27.8%; 95% CI 25.0–30.5), and experiencing severe alcohol dependence (mean 66.2%; 95% CI 36.8–95.7). Most services had a clinical lead but only 58% funded this role. Fifty-nine percent of services operated 7 days per week. Most services reported identification and brief advice, though it was rarely systematized. Nearly all supported medically assisted alcohol withdrawal, though a quarter of patients did not complete medically assisted alcohol withdrawal before discharge. Conclusions: ACT numbers increased significantly between 2019 and 2024. They offer a clinical service to highly vulnerable and complex patients. There is significant variation in ACT operational models, training, and leadership which will impact the effectiveness of identification strategies and management of patients with comorbid alcohol use disorder within acute medical settings.
Author(s): Case P, Wilkinson M, Foote G, Kalk N, Angus C, Canvin K, Cohen J, Drummond C, Masson S, O'Donnell A, Uhm S, Sinclair J, Phillips T
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Year: 2026
Volume: 61
Issue: 1
Print publication date: 01/01/2026
Online publication date: 30/12/2025
Acceptance date: 25/11/2025
Date deposited: 12/01/2026
ISSN (print): 0735-0414
ISSN (electronic): 1464-3502
Publisher: Oxford University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agaf082
DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaf082
Data Access Statement: Data available on request. The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.
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