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EMERGENCY

In an emergency, always call triple zero (000). It’s a free call from any phone, mobile or phone box.

For other urgent medical issues, go to an Emergency Department.

Our Emergency Departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

Hospital Alcohol and Other Drugs Consultation Liaison (AOD-CL) services play a key role in the assessing and managing AOD related conditions during hospital visits, either to the Emergency Department or on the wards. The central aim of AOD-CL is to enhance the safety, clinical outcomes, quality and efficiency of services for patients with substance use disorders in hospital settings.

The AOD-CL Service provides specialist nursing consultations to patients in Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Grafton and Maclean Hospitals where AOD issues are identified as complicating the patient’s care. The consultation and liaison staff ensure that the patient’s substance use is managed safely during their admission.

The role of the Hospital Consultation and Liaison nurse includes:

  • Consultation and liaison staff can also assist patients with advice about treatment options and, if needed, referrals to other services.
  • Provide direct patient care within the hospital setting including screening, assessment, brief intervention, management, discharge planning and referral.
  • Consult and liaise on a daily basis with AOD, hospital and mental health services Improve patient assessment, treatment, and discharge planning in acute settings.
  • Model and assist in the appropriate assessment, treatment and discharge planning processes of patients with co morbid conditions.
  • Provide expert advice, education, training, and liaison and consultancy services to all nurses based in acute settings including Emergency Department, general wards and Mental Health services, to ensure that patient’s AOD treatment needs are identified and managed in accordance with NSW Department of Health Policy.
  • Provide planned and urgent consultation for complex clients as required.

Consultation and liaison staff can also assist patients with advice about treatment options and, if needed, referrals to other services.