Alcohol hospital admissions soar by 18%

Doctors dealt with an extra 1,000 patients needing treatment for alcohol illnesses and injuries in Sefton last year. The 18% rise in just 12 months meant 7,883 people went to hospital seeking treatment.

In Southport Hospital, 43 children also needed help because of excessive drinking.


Danny Mann, Service Manager at Southport Alcohol Services said he was not surprised by the rise.

He has treated alcoholics as young as 18 and said sufferers were getting younger.

The counsellor who has helped out excessive drinkers for 20 years said many of the alcoholics he helps are in their forties and thirties but is now seeing more youngsters.

He told the Visiter: “Despite so called Government efforts to increase the price of alcohol especially with higher strength units nothing seems to be happening.”

Danny called on supermarkets to increase the price of super strength lager and cider.

And Ian Canning, NHS Sefton’s Health Promotion Specialist for Alcohol, insisted the Primary Care Trust (PCT) was working hard to reduce the figures.

He said “We are currently lower than the regional average, through initiatives and health promotion campaigns.”

Ian pointed to domestic drinking as a cause for the leap.

He said: “The reason for hospital admissions is because one in four people are drinking more than the recommended daily limits, (2-3 units for a woman and 3-4 units for a man).

“It’s not just happening on a Friday or Saturday night out either, as people who drink at home often underestimate how much they drink. The average person at home pours themselves almost double measures of spirits which more than doubles their weekly unit consumption and makes people think they are drinking within NHS guidelines when they are not.

“The cheap availability of alcohol from supermarkets and off licence adds to the problem.”

PCTs have lobbied for the Government to introduce minimum alcohol pricing of 50 pence per unit.

They believe supermarkets are selling booze below cost price and get involved in damaging price wars.

NHS Sefton provides a range of support to people wanting to modify their alcohol consumption. Sefton Alcohol Service provide appointments for members of the public who wish to self refer for alcohol support by calling 01704 542 332.

http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/southport-southport-news/2011/01/14/alcohol-hospital-admissions-soar-by-18-101022-27981234/