Standardising the management of alcohol withdrawal at an NHS district general hospital.

A lack of consistency in the management of alcohol withdrawal was identified at the trust. A multidisciplinary working group was set up to review the existing policies, and evaluate the evidence available. A trust-wide policy was introduced and the Clinical Institute Withdrawal from Alcohol score was used to manage alcohol withdrawal. Three main wards were identified for audit and education – emergency department, medical admissions unit and the gastroenterology ward. A ‘spot audit’ of all inpatients requiring treatment for alcohol withdrawal on these wards was undertaken before, and ongoing audit has occurred after, introduction of the policy.