Alcohol-related admissions rise

The number of patients attending Worcestershire Royal, Kidderminster and Redditch Alexandra Hospitals with alcohol poisoning or intoxication reached 291 in 2012, compared with just 215 the previous year.

Your Worcester News requested the figures after national reports that a record 92,000 people – more than 250 a day – were treated in hospital after drinking last year.

Tackling alcohol misuse is an urgent priority for health chiefs in Worcestershire, with an Alcohol Action Group being set up to address the problem locally.

This comes after the county’s Health and Wellbeing Board approved a new plan to tackle alcohol abuse in Worcestershire in January.

Dr Richard Harling, Worcestershire’s director of health and adult services, said the increase in alcohol-related admissions should not be taken lightly.

“Any number of hospital admissions due to alcohol is a concern and we are always working to reduce this number through a variety of ways,” he said.

“These measures range from education and intervention and targeted work with people who already drink within the community, to tackling the supply of alcohol, such as off licences, commissioning high quality drug and alcohol treatment and raising awareness of safer drinking guidance.”

He said tackling alcohol misuse has been pinpointed as one of just four priorities for “urgent and focused attention” over the next three years.

“The county council views tackling the misuse of alcohol as high priority and in conjunction with our partner services we are constantly striving to reduce drinking levels,” he added.

The health and wellbeing board estimates there are about 105,000 adults in Worcestershire who drink at levels that damage their health.

In Worcester there are 14,688 at ‘increasing risk’ and 2,963 at ‘higher risk’, the most vulnerable group. In the Malvern Hills district there are 3,360 people in the higher risk group and in Wychavon the figure is 4,987.