NHS England has launched a new Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) framework specifically designed to tackle the harms associated with tobacco and alcohol use within healthcare settings. This initiative encourages NHS trusts across the country to implement targeted interventions for patients who smoke or consume alcohol at harmful levels, aiming to improve long-term health outcomes and alleviate pressure on the health service.
The CQUIN framework, titled 'Health Matters: tobacco and alcohol CQUIN', provides financial incentives for trusts that successfully embed practices to identify and support patients. For tobacco, this includes offering immediate smoking cessation support, such as nicotine replacement therapy and referrals to specialist services, to all inpatients who smoke. The goal is to capitalise on the 'teachable moment' during a hospital stay, where individuals may be more receptive to making positive health changes.
Similarly, for alcohol, the framework promotes the routine screening of patients for harmful alcohol consumption and the provision of brief interventions. These interventions involve a short conversation with a healthcare professional to discuss alcohol intake, its potential risks, and offer advice or signposting to further support services. The emphasis is on early identification and intervention to prevent more severe alcohol-related health issues.
This new CQUIN builds upon existing public health strategies and recognises the significant burden that tobacco and alcohol place on the NHS and wider society. Both substances are leading preventable causes of illness, disability, and premature death in the UK. By integrating these interventions directly into clinical care pathways, the framework seeks to make addressing these issues a standard part of patient care, rather than an add-on.
The initiative is expected to play a crucial role in reducing health inequalities and improving the overall health of the population. By systematically addressing smoking and alcohol use, NHS England hopes to see a reduction in hospital admissions related to these substances, fewer long-term chronic conditions, and an improvement in the quality of life for many individuals. The success of the framework will depend on its effective implementation by trusts and the engagement of healthcare professionals.
Source: GOV.UK