This evaluation report is shared on behalf of the North East and North Cumbria ICS Population Health, Prevention, and Healthcare Inequalities Team.
Quick-read summary
Background
Alcohol Care Teams (ACTs) provide specialist interventions and care for patients who are admitted to hospital because of alcohol related illness and dependence, or where hospital admission for any reason is adversely impacted by factors related to alcohol.
The 2019 NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) established funding for ACTs in Foundation Trusts with the highest rate of alcohol dependence-related admissions.
In North East and North Cumbria (NENC) this led to ACTs in five Foundation Trusts, with the remaining three Foundation Trusts in our region granted equal funding from the NENC Integrated Care Board (ICB) to achieve region wide ACT coverage.
In 2024 there was a phased withdrawal of NHS England Long Term Plan funding for ACTs, leading to uncertainty about their future. National evaluation of ACTs has been carried out but is not yet available to support decision making.
Evaluation and analysis of impact
The North East and North Cumbria ICS led an analysis to develop a local evidence base demonstrating the effectiveness (including Return on Investment and financial viability) of ACTs.
The analysis used locally available commissioning datasets and accessed ACT patients at a pseudonymised individual level from five funded ACTs. Using data linkage, the healthcare activity for these patients has been analysed prior to contact and one year following their first recorded contact with the teams.
Key findings
- Contact with ACTs is associated with reduced frequency of admissions and attendances as well as increase in referrals to community alcohol services.
- The analysis demonstrates a £4.5 million avoided secondary healthcare cost associated with the NENC ACTs in 2023/2024, which equates to a Return on Investment of £5.06 per £1 invested.
Alcohol Care Team cost benefit analysis: Summary
- Cost to treat – £426 per person
- Potential avoided secondary healthcare costs from admissions and A&E per person = £2,105
- Overall cost efficiency – £1,679 per person treated
- Bed capacity – 4 free bed days per person treated
- Return on Investment – £5.06 per £1 invested
The evaluation report has been prepared by the NENC Alcohol Steering Group, and supported by the North East and North Cumbria ICB and NECS.
Authors
Clinical Lead – Dr James Crosbie
Strategic Lead – Sarah Hulse
Lead Analyst – Anna Pickford
Support Analyst – Beth Tear
You can download the full report, below.