The second Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) Reduction of Harm from Alcohol programme board meeting took place on Friday 8th November 2024.
Mandated by the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership (HCP) to lead on the delivery of an alcohol harm reduction programme, the board prioritises initiatives on early detection, prevention, and treatment interventions, with a focus on integrated system working to reduce alcohol harms.
The board works on objectives including to guide the implementation of the C&M alcohol harm reduction programme, with members using their local knowledge, influence, and authority at Place level to support this.
The key messages from the latest meeting are as follows:
- The Board heard key updates from the reduction of harm from alcohol programme, including integration of alcohol care, digital prevention, community liver health checks, the Blue Light Approach, and development of a North West alcohol strategy.
- The Board discussed ways to further promote the Lower My Drinking app across Cheshire and Merseyside to maximise the reach and help people to reduce their drinking. A new stakeholder toolkit and communication assets will be shared in December to support an additional burst of promotional activity during Dry January.
- The Board completed some horizon scanning to identify upcoming opportunities to influence policy, strategy and programme delivery. Examples included the NHS 10-year plan, North West alcohol strategy and new UK clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment.
The board will next meet in six months’ time, with an extraordinary virtual meeting taking place before this, in Q4, to receive updates on programme, and discussion items including ‘Data into Action’.
Visit our Reduction of Harm from Alcohol page to find out more about the programme’s vision and functions.
