THE number of alcohol-related hospital admissions in Worcestershire hit 12,607 in 2017-18, a 35 per cent increase on the 9,325 recorded in 2008-9.
That’s the finding of research by addiction treatment specialists UKAT which also shows that year on year hospital admissions in the county due to alcohol are steadily increasing.
The rising figures come as local hospitals are put increasingly under pressure dealing with admissions.
The number of alcohol related deaths in the county are also on the rise, from 275 in 2008 to 282 in 2016 and 313 in 2017.
It’s a similarly bleak picture in neighbouring Warwickshire where hospital admissions have shot up by 55 per cent between 2008-9 and 2017-18, from 7,637 to 11,882.
The figures come after Public Health England revealed that alcohol related hospital admissions across areas in the West Midlands reached almost 130,000 people.
It said one in five people drink more than they should do, exceeding the recommended 14 units a week recommended by the UK’s chief medical officers.
Eytan Alexander, chief executive of UKAT said: “The numbers speak for themselves – thousands of people across Worcestershire and Warwickshire hospitalised
because of alcohol and worse still, worrying rises in alcohol related deaths.
“It’s time to admit that there is a problem here, and we call on Worcestershire County Council and Warwickshire
“County Council to make better budget decisions this coming April and to invest more of their Public Health Grant into local drug and alcohol treatment services, as well as early intervention and awareness campaigns in order to support those most vulnerable.”
