HEALTH NEWS:ENGLAND - Accident & Emergency visits for alcohol harm tops quarter of a million

Emergency hospital admissions due to the harmful effects of alcohol have risen by more than 50% in nine years and now top 250,000 a year in England.
Rates were higher in deprived areas and in the north of England, the Hospital Episode Statistics reveal. 
The findings also show young females are the group most often treated for poisoning from harmful binges. 

The government said it had taken action to tackle cheap alcohol by banning the lowest priced drinks.

The Nuffield Trust, which carried out the survey, said the real number of those admitted to A&E due to alcohol would be higher because it the figures do not include alcohol-fuelled falls and fights, just illnesses such as alcohol poisoning and liver disease.

Nor does it count people who come to A&E drunk and are then sent home.

Men aged 45-65 made up the most admissions.

Half of all A&E attendances likely to be due to alcohol poisoning took place on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, peaking between midnight and 2am.

Three in four arrived by ambulance - putting a strain on already stretched resources, said the Nuffield Trust.

Joint author of the report Claire Currie said: "With the Christmas party season in full swing, it's worth considering the full burden over-indulgence in alcohol is placing on our NHS, as well as the obvious human cost.

"Our research has uncovered a picture of rising and avoidable activity in hospitals, representing a stark challenge for the Health Service at a time when it's already great pressure. Hospitals alone cannot tackle this issue - the government must consider measures such as minimum unit pricing, restricting availability and limiting marketing and advertising."

In England in 2013, approximately 18% of men and 13% of women drank at a level considered to be putting them at increased risk of harm.

In 2013/14, approximately 1 in 20 emergency admissions in England were related to alcohol.

In recent years, alcohol admissions have been going down in Scotland and stabilising in Wales.

Jackie Ballard, of Alcohol Concern, said middle-aged and older people drinking above recommended limits, often in their own homes, were of particular concern.

"These are the people who tend to require the most complex and expensive health care due to the mental and physical problems caused by drinking too much and alcohol's impact on the ageing body.

"Alcohol is linked to over 60 medical conditions and unless society and the government starts to take this seriously and acknowledges the health problems too much alcohol can cause, the situation will only get worse and the NHS will continue to strain under the burden of alcohol harm."

A government spokesman said: "People should always drink alcohol responsibly - very busy ambulance services and A&E staff can do without this extra demand.

"The government has taken action to tackle cheap alcohol by banning the lowest priced drinks and we are already seeing fewer young people drinking on a regular basis."


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