Study finds we just can't take our drink

Oct 15 2007 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

THE North-East is the worst place in the country for people being admitted to hospital for drink-related injuries, according to new figures.

The region has the highest number of men and women admitted as emergency cases as a direct result of their own or someone else’s drinking, according to the figures from the NHS Hospital Episodes Survey.

Wansbeck and Middlesbrough both came in the top 10 for men and women taken into hospital, while Newcastle ranked ninth for the men’s category in the study into the number of people who have suffered alcohol related accidents, poisoning or those with liver cirrhosis.

The region has the highest number of hospital admissions per 100,000 of the population, with 1,232 men per 100,000 and 689 per 100,000 for women. Dr Chris Record, a liver expert at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, said the results were an “absolute disgrace”.

He said: “If you take virtually every alcohol statistic that is produced, the North-East is the worst or very close to it in the country. The problem is straddling the whole age range but the number of young people with life threatening toxicity for alcohol is increasing.”

He said people in their 20s and 30s were now being admitted to hospital for liver failure with 40% of patients under 40.

A culture of heavy drinking in the region is the reason for people having alcohol poisoning, injuries and related liver conditions, he said.

Today’s figures come ahead of the full NHS Hospital Episodes Survey, which is released tomorrow.

It will give a full picture on the issue of alcohol in Britain. Prof Mark Bellis, director of the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, which compiled the information, said: “The figures show an increase in the levels of alcohol problems in the population.

“A lot of attention is paid towards binge drinking in younger people.

“But large numbers of people of all ages are simply drinking too much.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said there are close to two million people drinking at levels known to be harmful.

She said: “Reducing the harm caused by alcohol misuse is a top Government priority. We are working hard to help people take personal responsibility for their drinking and its impact on their health.”

She added: “Much of the harm that alcohol causes to individuals, families and communities is preventable and we are determined to do everything we can to identify harmful drinkers earlier so that they can receive support or treatment before their drinking causes them serious health problems.”

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Highest number of emergency drink-related hospital admissions in 2005-06 per 100,000.

MEN

1. Liverpool, 1,708

2. Manchester, 1,581

3. Knowsley, 1,574

4. MIDDLESBROUGH, 1,539

5. Halton, 1,530

6. WANSBECK, 1,516

7. Salford, 1,476

8. Hastings, 1,468

9. NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, 1,447

10. Wirral, 1,443

WOMEN

1. Liverpool, 874

2. Halton, 864

3. MIDDLESBROUGH, 845

4. Manchester, 815

5. Wirral, 809

6. Salford, 804

7. Hastings, 800

8. Warrington, 794

9. Preston, 780

10. WANSBECK, 774

Source: Hospital Episodes Survey Data (NHS)