Recurring concern
Unsafe prescribing for patients consuming excessive alcohol
- Reports that mention this concern
- 4
- Times this concern has been raised
- 5
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 8
What this concern includes
Includes failures in prescribing arrangements specifically addressing patients who consume alcohol excessively, including identifying and communicating alcohol use to prescribers, assessing interaction and overdose risks, setting appropriate dosage or duration, providing relevant advice and arranging follow-up review.
What is not included
- Excludes general unsafe prescribing where excessive alcohol use is not a material part of the asserted concern.
- Excludes generic medication communication, documentation or policy deficiencies unless they directly impair prescribing for a patient consuming excessive alcohol.
- Excludes alcohol-use treatment, withdrawal management and intoxication response where medication prescribing risk is not the shared unsafe condition.
- Excludes medication administration, dispensing or supply failures after a safe alcohol-sensitive prescribing decision has been made.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Reports and published responses 4 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of a policy for patients prescribed medication while consuming alcohol to excess
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Swanage Medical Practice
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Swanage Medical Practice
Create an electronic-record alert for drugs in the specified prescribing group, warning prescribers about dosage and alcohol-related risks.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to account for significant alcohol use when prescribing powerful painkillers
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Share up-to-date opiate prescribing guidance across Stockport practices.
-
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Work with system colleagues to ensure adherence to best-practice opiate prescribing guidance.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Existing prescribing safeguards are considered sufficient to ensure safe opiate prescribing across the individual practice and wider Stockport GP community.
-
Concerns raised2
Failure to ensure prescribers are aware of high alcohol use
Failure to assess the risk of mixing alcohol with prescribed medication
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
- Tameside Borough Council
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
-
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and Tameside Borough Council
Flag patients at risk from neuropathic medication and alcohol dependence, conduct medication reviews, and contact them about medication and alcohol consumption.
-
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and Tameside Borough Council
Train non-clinical staff to share intentional or accidental overdose information with practice GPs.
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NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and Tameside Borough Council
Develop and distribute guidance to practices on identifying and managing patients prescribed neuropathic drugs or opioids who may be alcohol-dependent.
-
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
Issue an alert to all GP practices about alert notes, follow-up reviews and considering systems to identify high alcohol use during prescribing.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
The named Clinical Commissioning Group is responsible for addressing the concerns raised about GP practice alert systems and prescribing risk assessment.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to safely assess morphine prescribing alongside high-dose painkillers and alcohol dependence
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Browning Street Surgery
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Browning Street Surgery
Consider and initiate independent medication reviews by asking an uninvolved doctor to review complex patients’ medication when appropriate.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Browning Street Surgery
Morphine was considered appropriate because pain was significant, alternatives had failed, alcohol intake had reduced, and prescribing was regularly reviewed.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026