Northampton General Hospital treating more patients with alcohol problems
THE number of inpatients admitted to Northampton General Hospital with alcohol-related health problems has increased by more than 50 per cent in the last five years.
Figures released by the Northampton hospital show that more than 5,600 inpatients suffering from alcohol-related injuries or illnesses were treated at the hospital between 2007 and 2011.
This included 1,300 people last year, a rise of 51 per cent on the total of 857 patients five recorded years ago.
The figures, which were released by the Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust following a Freedom of Information request, also show a 75 per cent increase in the number of admissions due to alcohol poisoning - or binge drinking - during the same five year period.
Last year, the hospital treated 47 patients for alcohol poisoning, compared to just 27 in 2007.
The director of public health for NHS Northamptonshire, Professor Stephen Horsley, said: “Reducing alcohol harm is one of the top priorities for health services in Northamptonshire.
“In 2010-11 there were 2,027 alcohol specific hospital admissions, costing the local NHS around £2.9m.
“Based on England average rates, if we don’t do anything and the rate continues to rise, alcohol specific hospital admissions will cost the NHS in Northamptonshire an additional £1.4m by 2014-15.”
NHS Northamptonshire invested more than £1.1m in 2010 and 2011 after the county was red flagged for alcohol harm in 2009.
But Northamptonshire County Councillor Marion Minney, (Lib Dem, Headlands), argued the Government had not done enough to tackle either binge drinking or the effects of drinking too much at home.
The former nurse, who is now the opposition spokeswoman for health at County Hall, said: “People know about drink driving but they don’t know about the knock on effect on their liver and, having looked after a few people with liver failure, it’s not pleasant. I think if people realised that they perhaps might think more about what they drink.”
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
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SteveWonder
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:26 AMmost alcoholics were at one time "binge drinkers" but common to all alcoholics was the decision to drink to excess even though they knew it was dangerous and would make the situation worse. there was a time when they could have stopped or moderated the consumption but simply chose not to
jenny jane
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:03 AMComments aimed at binge drinkers..
seedee
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 05:24 PMThere is a great difference between people who binge drink and alcoholism which is an awful DISEASE !
.~* JEZ *~.
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:51 PMWell my grammer wasn't much better either, I should have said, "you're not the brightest" not "your not the brightest", but you didn't notice. Anyway, you say that you're just a normal human being who makes mistakes eh? I take it you have never known or had someone close to you that has struggled with alcohol, because your attitude towards it suggests you have never really given it much thought? Some people are weak-willed, which is no fault of their own, aren't they just human beings who make mistakes or not?
jenny jane
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:22 PMfull stop.... next sentence....stand corrected... Just human who makes errirz and I left school more years than I care to remember...Inglish was me best subjik
.~* JEZ *~.
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:08 PMRE: jenny jane, your grammer suggests your not the brightest spark in the class eh?
jenny jane
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 03:10 PMfell over beacuse you were drunk,,,hurt in a fight because you were drunk...p off and pay or suffer Self inflicted so sorry not pity at all....
mojo
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 02:26 PMYes and a lot of the people coming into this country to live have religious beliefs forbidding the consumption of alcohol so that's a bonus too. ;-)
Love Child
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:26 PMi AM PROUD to be weak willed and stupid, and had a good time for 50+ years, I have not used the NHS as yet for any my folly, I know many people RIP who never drank, and or smoked, and they are not with us, and didnt live to any ripe old ages, me weak willed youve got to be kidding, never missed a days work through a hangover!
TheCount
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:21 PMSomeone drinking 20 pings a week [pays about £1000 per year in tax, multiply that by 3000 and you get £3Million per year. Are they complaining that the people paying this hiddenextra tax shouldn't be treated even though they are paying extra ? Also, in the last 5 years we've had a massive influx of immigrants, so more people. Statistics can say pretty much anything you want them to, it sounds to me like they want more money from the already hard pressed tax payers.
Removed by moderator
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:00 PMI would like to opt out of paying for the fire service because people who set fire to their house by smoking and cooking chips should bear the costs. Health has nothing to do with the Council. "The former nurse, who is now the opposition spokeswoman for health at County Hall, said: People know about drink driving but they donât know about the knock on effect on their liver and, having looked after a few people with liver failure, itâs not pleasant. I think if people realised that they perhaps might think more about what they drink. That should be a "spokesperson" by the way. And who are you in "opposition to?"
.~* JEZ *~.
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:58 AMGet back in the kitchen where you belong lady muck!
mojo
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:37 AMSurely these people are self funding after all the tax on alcohol, or do they have an illegal still?
lady muck
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 09:29 AMCan I please opt out of paying taxes to fund treatment for alcohol-related injuries or illness ? The weak-willed and stupid should fund their own treatment.
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