Alcohol related hospital admissions soar

According to UK charity Alcohol Concern, the number of people admitted to hospital in the UK because of drinking problems could rise to 1.5 million by 2015 with an annual NHS cost of £3.7bn.

According to a report compiled by the charity the number of individuals being treated in hospital for alcohol misuse has doubled between 2002-3 and 2009-10 and will continue to rise if there is no new investment in alcohol services to stop the rise.

The report includes recommendations for the introduction of specialist health workers across the health services and claims that it could save the NHS £3 for every £1 spent.

Alcohol Concern chief executive, Don Shenker said: “With the prime minister saying that NHS is becoming ‘increasingly unaffordable’, we can show how billions can be saved simply by introducing alcohol health workers in hospitals to help patients reduce their drinking”.

Shenker suggests that a modern investment in supporting those who do have drinking problems could lead to huge savings in the future.

If you are struggling to come to terms with a drinking problem and would like information about how counselling could help you then please visit our Alcohol Dependence fact-sheet. Alternatively if you would like to contact a qualified counsellor in your local area to discuss this matter or any other then you can use the search tool located on the homepage.

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