Sobering facts about rise in hospital cases (From The Northern Echo)

Sobering facts about rise in hospital cases

6:00am Friday 5th February 2010

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ALARMING new figures reveal drink-related admissions to the region’s hospitals have increased by 12 per cent in only one year.

The figures published by Health Minister Gillian Merron show there were 80,624 admissions linked to alcohol in the North-East and North Yorkshire during 2008-9 – up more than 8,000 on the previous year.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said last night the data highlighted the need for a new mandatory alcohol code.

The figures are likely to increase pressure on the Government to introduce a minimum price for alcohol, following calls for the move this week by all 13 of the North-East public health directors.

The report was published in response to a parliamentary question by Newcastle Central MP Jim Cousins.

It revealed that out of the 153 primary care trusts (PCT) in the country, the worst two areas for alcohol-related hospital admissions were Gateshead and Newcastle PCTs.

In these areas, about one in ten hospital admissions were alcohol-related.

Just behind were County Durham, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Darlington, Sunderland Teaching and North Tyneside PCT areas.

The figures revealed a 12 per cent increase in alcoholrelated admission from 2007-8 to 2008-9 across the North- East and North Yorkshire.

The biggest rise was in the County Durham PCT area where admissions involving alcohol increased by 22 per cent from 10,699 to 13,049.

Glenn Turp, regional director for the RCN, said the data “quantified in stark terms the sheer scale of the problem in the North-East”.

He added: “The RCN Northern region has been banging the warning gong about this for some time and now is the time for action.

“It is an absolute tragedy that every year more and more people are dying as a result of excessive drinking.

“It is vital that people are made aware of the dangers of excessive drinking through effective and widespread education initiatives.

“However, we also need a mandatory code to tighten up the regulation of the advertising, labelling and sale of alcohol.”

Last night, the Department of Health said it was continuing to look at issues regarding the price of alcohol.

A spokesman added: “We have already taken new powers to tackle the worst irresponsible promotions such as ‘drink as much as you like for £5’.

“We will continue to look at how we can tackle the problems caused by cheap alcohol.”

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