Cornwall Council’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team has been successful in a bid for £68,000 from the Government’s Community Fund to help people with complex needs to avoid hospital admissions.

Two more outreach workers will work with 50 of the most frequent attenders at the Royal Cornwall Hospital A&E Department through drug and alcohol misuse and who also have a mental health diagnosis. It’s hoped 30 of the identified people can be placed into long-term sustainable rehabilitation. 

The team’s Kim Hager said: ’These funds will increase our ability to engage vulnerable adults who may be homeless, rough sleeping, street drinking and repeatedly being admitted into hospital and will form part of the multi-agency approach that the Council and Community Safety Partnership is taking. 

’By all services working jointly together and reducing the opportunities for people to fall through the gaps, we will see a reduction in costs for the NHS and social care, as well as providing a better service for the most vulnerable people in our society.’