Drink causes 16,000 hospital admissions

MORE than 16,000 hospital admissions each year in Hull and the East Riding are linked to alcohol, new NHS figures show.

There were about 7,800 admissions in Hull and 8,500 in the East Riding related to people drinking alcohol from 2011 to 2012.

Admissions for which drink was the main cause accounted for 2,600 out of the overall figure of 16,300.

Although figures specific to Hull and the East Riding are not available for the previous year, in the Yorkshire and Humber region admissions rose from 119,700 to 126,900.

Graeme Dixon, services manager for NHS-funded Action For Change, said revellers who "pre-load" alcohol before going out often end up in hospital but it is mostly their elders who are admitted.

He said: "Evidence shows it seems to be older people in their late-40s and early-50s who have consumed alcohol over a long period of time who are admitted to hospital.

"Most people just don't realise how much damage alcohol can do.

"We provide the council's alcohol harm reduction service and have helped about 5,000 people since the contract started in 2010.

"Although the figures don't always show it, we are getting really good results and about one in eight people have changed their behaviour towards alcohol."

Action For Change has set up stalls in shopping centres, health centres and at major local events.

Mr Dixon said he was proud of the work being done in the city to change people's attitudes to drink.

"It's also obvious to say if alcohol was more expensive, people would drink less," he said. "A lot of good things are happening in Hull and we are always out in the community."

Mr Dixon said if alcohol starts to affect people's relationships and health, they need to speak out.

"The common image is that people with a problem are on the streets, but it is often hidden," he said.

"One of our recent clients was a man in his 60s who had suffered a bereavement.

"He had been referred to us by his GP and wasn't fully aware of the amount of units he was drinking.

"He could have been a real strain on the health service but after a couple of sessions he cut down."

Peter Dawson, public health manager for Hull City Council, said the city's alcohol strategy aims to reduce long-term misuse.

He said: "We proactively offer advice and practical tips to help people manage their alcohol use, to prevent it escalating into a more serious problem."

The NHS figures also include those who have injured themselves while drunk, including glassing and tripping over.

Mr Dawson said: "We work in partnership with the police, NHS and Hull Bid on initiatives that help to facilitate a safer city centre.

"One of the particularly successful initiatives that resulted in a decrease in attendance at A&E is the poly-carbonate glasses scheme.

"More pubs in the city centre have, over the past month, replaced glasses as a safety measure."

Visit www.action-for-change.org/hullalcoholservices, or call 01482 321594 for more information.