This service provides information, advice, care and treatment for individuals with drug and alcohol problems within the acute hospital setting.

This service operates from accident and emergency departments at Monklands, Wishaw and Hairmyres hospitals. The service is run by two nurses at each hospital.

Aims of the service

The wider aims are to improve access to addiction services for people who misuse substances, through onward referral to services like the North Lanarkshire Integrated Addiction Service and other drug and alcohol services, including liaising with other agencies to provide seamless transfer to community care.

What is provided by the service?

The substance misuse nurses (SMN) provide a physical presence in the hospital environment, supporting patients, families and staff when alcohol or drug misuse is together with altered health status.

Patients are referred to this service as inpatients from hospital wards, accident and emergency or hospital clinics as outpatients. The three hospital sites are Hairmyres, Monklands and Wishaw.

The local aims of the service are the safe, appropriate and effective management of all patients whose misuse of alcohol or drugs is disclosed or discovered during assessment or treatment without exception, prejudice or judgement and onward referral for community support and care.

For more information

Contact your local addiction recovery team.