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Drink admissions soar after 24-hour licensing
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent2 Apr 2008
The number of drunken patients treated at some London A&E departments has doubled since 24-hour drinking was introduced.
Figures today reveal the burden that excessive alcohol consumption is putting on the NHS with hospitals offering counselling as well as emergency medical help.
Overall, the number of casualty visits triggered by heavy drinking jumped by a third after licensing was extended in November 2005. But bingedrinking emergencies doubled in at least two London trusts - Homerton University Hospital in Hackney and Ealing Hospital - and increased by between 73 and 81 per cent in others. The statistics sparked fresh calls for a clampdown on alcohol sales to the under-18s amid fears that the problem is out of control. Shadow home affairs minister James Brokenshire, who obtained the figures, said: "This highlights just how cavalier and irresponsible the Government was in introducing 24-hour drinking."
In 2005, before the law was changed, there were 19,289 visits to London A&E departments where the primary or secondary diagnosis was alcohol related.
By last year, the figure had jumped to 25,334 - a rise of 31 per cent - while across the country as a whole admissions increased by 26 per cent. Homerton University Hospital saw the biggest increase in the capital, with alcohol-related visits going up from 494 to 1,037.
A spokesman said: "The increase in alcohol-related admissions is due to a number of organisational and social factors. Not least of these is a much higher awareness, and as a result recording, of alcohol as a secondary issue related to other presenting illnesses.
"We are pleased to be able to offer follow up, counselling and guidance to people who present with alcohol problems. And we make every effort to maximise our detection of people who would benefit from such help."
The highest number of admissions last year was at Guy's and St Thomas's NHS trust - from 1,912 to 2,323. However, this trust covers much of the West End which is packed with bars and nightclubs.
Tory mayoral candidate Boris Johnson said: "I will work with London boroughs to crack down on underage drinking and bring in the tougher enforcement."
A spokesman for the Department of Culture, which is responsible for licensing, said: "There is no conclusive evidence that longer hours have been responsible for apparent recent increases in alcohol related A&E admissions.
"Clearly we are concerned by levels of alcohol related illness and injury, which have risen consistently in recent years, and predate the changes in the licensing regime. A wide ranging programme of work has begun across government to address alcohol-related harm and disorder."
THE NHS ALCOHOL BURDEN
Drink-related admissions (2006/2007)/% rise
* Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - 1,037/109%
* Ealing Hospital NHS Trust - 692/102%
* Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust - 1,620/81%
* University College London Hospitals NHS Trust - 816/80%
* Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust - 967/73%
Reader views (4)
Why isn't the Labour government doing something about the drink laws. How stupid can they be. The NHS is in deep trouble as it is. So why put more strain on the health care. What a mess Theresa Jawels has gotten this country into. She really doesn't care what happens to peoples health.
- Helen Mc Allister, san diego,ca., 03/04/2008 03:47
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Being too strict or too permissive in raising children both lead to problems.
I believe UK has been too strict, hence the tendency I observed in Brits to drink way too much too quickly, because they were not used to our opening hours. They drank as though they were going to be chucked out at 11, which did not happen, so they drank too much.
- Eh Gerritsen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 02/04/2008 23:58
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OK, let me get this straight. Young people in the UK are actually drinking themselves into the Hospital? What a surprise. We have seen this long enough with tourists kids from the UK coming to Europe for weekends and acting like jerks binge drinking and walking around in large loud groups resembling wolf-packs. Ever been to Amsterdam on a Saturday night? Not pretty... the kids from the UK have ruined that place. Good luck, get a grip...
- Douglas, Koeln, DE, 02/04/2008 13:40
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My wife is an A&E nurse and, despite government claims to the contrary, she's been saying for some time that binge drinking was out of control. The government needs to speak to the people in the front line of the problem - the nurses.
- David, London, England, 02/04/2008 13:28
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