SHADOW Health and Social Care Secretary Jonathan Ashworth has hailed Poole Hospital's alcohol treatment service as "the model we want to see everywhere."

The Labour MP, who has spoken publicly about his own childhood growing up with an alcoholic father, had been invited by hospital chiefs to meet the Alcohol Care and Treatment Service (ACTS) team.

Describing the service as "incredibly forward-thinking," Mr Ashworth added: "I just want to say a huge thanks to all the staff at Poole, particularly the alcohol care team, who should be particularly proud of the work that they do.

"What the team does is a real bit of innovation that’s incredibly forward-thinking and I want to see it delivered in every hospital across the country.

"I really hope the NHS bosses come to Poole and pick this up as the model that we want to see everywhere – that’s certainly the argument I’m going to be making."

The hospital's head of addiction services, Graeme White, had extended the invitation to Mr Ashworth, who has called for greater recognition of the damage done, particularly to families, by excessive drinking.

The shadow secretary also met with hospital deputy chief executive Mark Mould, and director of nursing Patricia Reid.

His visit was rounded-off with a walking tour of the emergency department.

While visiting the ACTS team, the MP met with former service user, John McBride.

Speaking about his experience while in the care of the team, John said: "I needed the input from the team to re-establish routine in my life, to get over physical dependence and put my life together.

"It can be a very lonely place and the team were able to help me with that.

"I know somebody is always there who I can contact and to say that I'm struggling and someone I can relate to."

On Mr Ashworth's visit to the hospital, Mr Mould said: "With the current political climate we really appreciated the time Jonathan took to travel to Dorset and spend time with our staff and patients

"The visit was a great opportunity to discuss the challenges we face, especially in alcohol services, and to find out more about the hospital."