Supporting Physical Health in Addiction Recovery - No Wrong Door

Abstract

Aims

Substance use disorders are associated with significant physical health comorbidities, necessitating an integrated treatment response. However, service fragmentation can preclude the management of physical health problems during addiction treatment. (Osborne et al, 2022). Northeast England continues to have the highest morbidity /mortality with regards to substance use (ONS, 2022). Therefore, it is essential that staff in addiction health settings innovate to address physical health.

Methods

A review of the literature identified little research relating to physical health care in addiction and recovery settings. Our service protocol for blood testing was used to set the audit standards. The blood testing assessed electronic communication and electronic records. Physical health nurses take blood on request and email blood results to a medical/clinician inbox. The total sample was 1128 since pathway inception in March 2022.A sample size of 70 was selected via systematic sampling using n-15th person. Descriptive analyses of data followed by qualitative exploration with the physical health team was completed. The audit was registered locally.

Results

Of the sample size of 70 whose records were reviewed, we noted that blood tests were reviewed by medics (100%) with 98.6% of these reviews being within 6 hours of notification by the physical health team. Action plans were documented for blood results requests and communicated by email to physical health team (100%). 84.3% of the action plans were completed by physical health team on receipt of emails. Non completion of action plans in 15.7% of cases was related to client being hospitalised or disengaging from services (which might include relocation out of area or transfer into the criminal justice system).

Conclusion

Within our service, we have patients who struggle to attend conventional pathways e.g., GP. In view of the previously stated morbidity and mortality it is important that we are able to offer blood testing with timely follow up and action plans when appropriate to these patients.

Our service has good liaison with local services and bespoke partnerships to cater for the homeless amongst other subgroups. We used this audit to also improve processes and patient safety with plans for a re-audit. There was no previous nor national comparison for these data.