12th Dec 11
Alcohol-related hospital admissions double in past decade
by Natasha Redman
Mine's a double: worrying statistic for drinkers
Mine's a double: worrying statistic for drinkers
Alcohol-related hospital admissions have hit a record high, triggering fresh concern over the harm binge drinking is causing.
Some 1,173,386 patients were admitted to hospitals in England for treatment for problems linked to alcohol in 2010-11, show statistics from the NHS, a rise of nine per cent compared to the 1,056,962 the previous year, the first time the admissions number was in excess of one million. In 2002-03, only 510,780 people were admitted.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansbury said the fact the number had more than doubled over the nine-year period, as well as the latest annual increase, is worrying evidence that, despite overall alcohol consumption not going up recently, there are serious problems with long-term excessive alcohol abuse and binge drinking with a minority of people.
The figures have prompted doctors’ leaders to urge a tough approach to drinking, including tighter restrictions on marketing and introducing a minimum price per unit.
The numbers and official NHS patient records of those who have been admitted to hospital with alcohol-related problems were gathered by the Liverpool-based North West Public Health Observatory and published by the Department of Health. In England, there were 926 admissions per 100,000 people back in 2002-03, which went up to 1,743 in 2009-10 and 1,898 last year.
The largest year-on-year increase was in London, at 14 per cent, with the east of England coming second with 10 per cent. It is estimated that 7,074 people under the age of 18 have been admitted to hospital due to alcohol since the beginning of 2011, the public health minister Anne Milton told Diane Abbott, the shadow public health minister, at a separate parliamentary answer.
A recent Alcohol Concern report revealed that alcohol-related hospital admissions will spiral to 1.5 million at a cost of £3.8bn per year to the NHS. The director of professional activities at the British Medical Association, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said that the latest figures are “extremely concerning” and reveal how England is in danger of an alcohol misuse crisis.
Mr Lansley blamed the last Labour government for the trend, saying that the consistent increases clearly show that Labour did not tackle the problem during their 13-year tenure. He pointed out that reckless policies, including their decision to introduce a 24-hour drinking culture, simply made matters worse. He added that a new alcohol strategy, due in early 2012, would outline fresh ideas to tackle the problem.
However, Abbott insisted the ministers were allowing alcohol manufacturers too much influence regarding policy through their inclusion in the Department of Health’s Public Health Responsibility Deal, as they avoid further regulation by making pledges. Critics, however, claim the pledges are a waste of time. Abbott said that all British families want is a sign that the government will attempt to tackle the harm caused by binge drinking.
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