THE number of people admitted to hospital at Warrington for alcohol related problems has risen by 11 per cent over the last six years.
A total of 4,990 people were admitted last year compared with 4,490 in 2012-113.
Conditions for hospital admission due to alcohol include cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, alcohol poisoning, and alcoholic liver disease.
The rise is part of an 18per cent increase across the North West as a whole, according to the NHS.
Last year, almost 200,000 people were admitted to hospitals across the region due to alcohol.
The figure has continued to rise over the six year period.
Analysis of the statistics has been carried out by alcohol addiction treatment experts UKAT (UK Addiction Treatment Group).
It shows the areas with the highest number of alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2018/19 include Lancashire (31,530), Liverpool (14,270), Manchester (12,370) and Cumbria ( 11,790).
Only Wigan has seen a reduction in the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions, falling from 9,140 in 2012/13 to 9,020 in 2018/19.
Warrington’s 11 per cent increase over the six year period is one of the lowest, however, only matched by Salford.
Oldham and Wirral had the biggest increases, with 35 per cent.
Across the region, 65 per cent of people admitted were men and 35 per cent women – the same as in 2012-2013.
Nuno Albuquerque, group treatment lead at UKAT said: “The problem with alcohol in this country is a ticking time bomb about to explode. NHS Hospitals in particular across the North West are crippling under pressures directly attributable to the misuse of alcohol; a drug that is so socially accepted yet so incredibly dangerous.
“People here are seemingly struggling with their alcohol consumption; drinking so much alcohol that it is leading to hospitalisation and the diagnosis of further, debilitating conditions, yet the Government continues to have their heads buried in the sand.
“The question is, why do we still not have an Alcohol-specific Strategy, as promised back in 2018? It is a huge problem and one that needs immediately addressed as a matter of urgency.”
For help, advice and local alcohol support services, visit www.ukat.co.uk/alcohol/v7/
