A DROP-IN clinic which provides supports to people with an alcohol dependency in Crewe and the surrounding areas continues to grow in strength.

The clinic, hosted by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) is held at Catherine House in Eaton Street, Crewe on Mondays and Wednesdays between 2pm and 4pm, and was established in January.

Catherine House is the base for CWP’s East Cheshire Substance Misuse Service, and is open to individuals requiring information and support regarding alcohol use.

With no appointments necessary, the clinic aims to support people in an informal setting without the need for them to visit their local hospital, reducing the strain on A&E services.

According to Alcohol Concern, there have been 6,081 alcohol-related deaths in the UK this year.

In England, there are an estimated 595,000 dependent drinkers, of who only 100,000 are accessing treatment services.

The clinics offer people an alternative venue to obtain advice and support regarding their alcohol use.

With a relaxed environment, the clinic is staffed by health experts experienced in the management and treatment of alcohol-related problems.

People who attend the clinic are also offered literature that provides useful information regarding alcohol such as the relationship between sleep and alcohol consumption, and general advice.

The clinic also provides a space for family members seeking advice and support regarding a loved one.

Deborah Hughes, CWP clinical nurse specialist, said: “Due to the nature of the clinic people can attend as and when they feel they need the support.

“As a service we welcome anyone who is worried about their own alcohol consumption or that of a family member to make use of the service.

"It empowers people to bring about positive changes from a supportive and non-judgemental team within the Substance Misuse Service.

“The service has a steady number of individuals attending the clinic and a number of those people have indicated they would have used hospital services had the drop-in clinic not been available.

“What this typifies is how CWP are endeavouring to make services more accessible for our local population, and how we are making efforts to provide sustainable solutions for issues that affect local people and our wider health service.”