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Original poster

Do the NHS ever send people to rehab?

34 replies

dinny · 09/06/2006 08:23

And pay for it? Relative's partner at rock bottom (alcoholism) and relative seems to think the NHS are going to dry him out. Never heard of this, is it a possibility, anyone know? Thanks, Dinny

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FioFio · 09/06/2006 08:23

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Original poster
dinny · 09/06/2006 08:27

people are calling ambulances left, right and centre for him - and he's been picked up by police a few times too.... Thanks, Fio.

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FioFio · 09/06/2006 08:31

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zippitippitoes · 09/06/2006 08:33

Yes..though as with all mental health services it is a battle to get admitted for in patient care

Original poster
dinny · 09/06/2006 08:35

no, don't think he has private cover...pretty sure not, actually.

can alcoholics drink themselves to death, lterally, on a bender? - he's just been on a 5-day one (culminating in talk of rehab)

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FioFio · 09/06/2006 08:35

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FioFio · 09/06/2006 08:37

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Fillyjonk · 09/06/2006 08:38

yes the nhs has detox centres, alcohol support teams etc. and yes, people can drink themselves to death. Sad happened to dylan thomas.

Original poster
dinny · 09/06/2006 08:41

Fio - he's still in denial, really. he went to aa as my mil (it is her partner) made him but he stopped going as he said he was sober and didn't need to. was obvious to dh and I that he hadn't stopped drinking and a couple of months ago I caught him swigging wine from the bottle when everyone had momentarily left table (he was v encouraging of mil to carry on drinking around him...wonder why?!) since then he's been on downward spiral and it's only now that people outside the famly involved is he saying he has a problem.

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Original poster
dinny · 09/06/2006 08:42

though I think he is rarely sober enough to even think about his drinking, iykwim

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hoxtonchick · 09/06/2006 08:43

hi dinny :). dp, who works in a related field (drugs), says the nhs does fund alochol rehab, but it's a bit hit & miss. hope things get sorted.

FioFio · 09/06/2006 08:44

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zippitippitoes · 09/06/2006 08:45

He has to want to be treated himself, otherwise all you can do is stand by and watch him drink himself to death..dps step father died through alcohol two years ago..he had been into rehab(NHS) more than once but resumed drinking...he was in his late fifties I think

FrannyandZooey · 09/06/2006 08:51

Yes I had my alcohol addiction treated on the NHS. They were prepared to hospitalise me but luckily it wasn't necessary in the end.

Agree it can kill someone and agree he has to be determined that this is what he wants - you can't take someone in and cure them.

Surfermum · 09/06/2006 08:59

I work in a drug and alcohl team. We have a ward where clients can go for a detox. We can also refer people to residential rehab centres and the funding comes from social services. I'm not sure if it's means tested though.

Original poster
dinny · 09/06/2006 09:20

v difficult situation (of course) - mil has wanted out of the relationshp for some timebut finds it impossible. how can you end a relationship with someone in such a state? he was at rock bottom when they met and she has spent the last few years trying to change him Sad but to no avail. v worrying all round. thanks for your posts.

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sweetmonkey · 09/06/2006 09:47

my mother is an alcoholic and she collapsed before christmas and was taken into hospital where i had to tell the doctors how much she drank because my mum is v good at lying about it. they gave her tablets to stop her having withdrawal symptoms from the alcohol and anti sickness stuff etc so basically "dried her out".

when she left hospital she was straight back on the booze.

shes now down to 5 1/2 stone as she doesnt eat and after speaking to the doctor the other day he has told me she is seriously ill and basically v close to death. Sad

she still wont get help

please convince your relative to get help, or show him my post so he knows how bad things can get
x

chapsmum · 09/06/2006 11:21

alcohol detox has a 10% mortality rate and so people can be admited if they have tried to stop the acohol themselves. In that case they would be admitted to a medical ward untill they are throught the worst of the physical side effects.

People can also be admted throught the psych side of the NHS but this usually more dificult to gain access to due to bed shorteges etc.

FioFio · 09/06/2006 12:38

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zippitippitoes · 09/06/2006 12:50

How is the 10% rate worked out though..in real terms it must be much less as I imagine a lot of people detox outside medival care and are therefore not registered

sweetmonkey · 09/06/2006 12:54

fiofio thanks.

not trying to hijack this thread btw just was trying to make people realise how bad it can get

the hospital wont admit my mum because she lies so convincingly and because shes so tiny and frail people just beleive her and feel sorry for her.

grrr

FioFio · 09/06/2006 13:01

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zippitippitoes · 09/06/2006 13:04

so sorry sweetmonkey

sadly unless someone wants to recognise and recover from their addicition it's practically impossible to help them

Original poster
dinny · 09/06/2006 13:11

how awful,Sweetmonkey. it is so sad, what a terrible thing alcohol addiction is.
thak you for posting and thinking of you.xx

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sweetmonkey · 09/06/2006 14:11

thanks for your posts and dinny like i said i wasnt trying to hijack the thread. i realy hope your relatives partner gets the help he/she deserves.
x