Alcohol ‘Identification and Brief Advice’ (IBA) Training

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with Public Health Blackpool, recognised the need for a training programme for staff on Alcohol ‘Identification and Brief Advice’ following the introduction of the alcohol liaison nurse specialist (ALNS) team.As part of its public health strategy, the Trust started implementing this training in September 2010, to identify and manage health promotion needs (such as the identification of, and brief advice for, patients who misuse alcohol), which are key to promoting the health of patients, visitors and staff. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was one of the first trusts to develop an alcohol liaison nurse specialist team in 2008. This has expanded over the years, and has been supplemented with staff training, and the introduction of volunteer health mentors.