Reporting an intoxicated employee

[BigWheels]

A close relative has an alcohol probelm but cannot see their alcohol consumption as an issue and will not engage with anyone who tries to help or shows any concern. This person works for the NHS and on multiple occasions I have seen them go off to work after having consumed what I would consider to be too much alcohol to be able to focus properly at work. Given that this person works for the NHS I am concerned that lives could be at risk and I would like to report this to the employer. Does anyone know how to go about this? The only contact information I could find for the hospital concerned was to contact wards or PALS. I was thinking to report to HR or hospital management but couldnt find any information. Is it even worth reporting? Os it something they would investigate or would they not act until the emoloyee makes themselves suspect though mistakes or unusual behaviour?

I also have concerns about family member dricing while over the limit. Is worth contacting the police about to make them aware of the vehicle or would they not be interested unless the car is involved in an accident or the driver randomly breathalised?

Years ago I reported someone to the police as he regularly drunk and then drove and it was unsafe for him and other road users - I knew he'd loose his job but everyone knew he did it so I just reported it anonymously and he got banned, lost his job but did get the help he needed - sometimes it's what they need.

I work for the NHS and I line manage people, if someone called me to say a member of my team had an issue I'd refer them to occupational health who have support for people

Reporting them in a round about way could be the best thing all round

I used to drink a lot a lot. Would spend 3x a week in the pub lunch time share a bottle of wine with one other person go back to work , she’d be fine I’d not even be able to see the PC screen

only once did a manger ask if I’d been to the pub, I said I had and he said I can tell - I said I’d had 2 small wines but hadn’t eaten. I just drank a lot of coffee

Yes I would report and have done so regarding a colleague when we were both teaching in a business college abroad. He turned up drunk to teach his class. After I reported him he got fired. It sort of backfired on me as I was forced to take over his class and suddenly instead of 35 students in the class I had 70! But I would do it again. In your situation it is more critical since lives are at risk.

Report them to the Police if they're driving, that may be the more immediate solution.

They may be aware of it at their place of work, but from personal experience it's a very grey area to tackle someone about. We ended up tipoeing around it and offering support instead of dealing with it head on....... and it ended up being a very costly and time consuming mistake.

A colleague in a different department to me but in a NHS patient facing role was reported by a patient by letter to the colleague's head of department. The colleague was given support by occupational health and the management team. Many immediate colleagues had no idea that there was a long standing issue and unfortunately complications from alcoholism resulted in their death.

Jesus, that sounds like an attack from all fronts which may totally ruin this person's life. Trying to get someone sacked when there's an economic catastrophe heading our way seems unnecessarily harsh OP.