The Isle of Wight has seen a shocking 80 per cent rise in the number of people admitted to hospital due to alcohol in the last seven years.
The latest Public Health England figures show that from April 2012 to March 2019, 16,430 Islanders were hospitalised due to alcohol-related illnesses including alcohol poisoning, alcoholic liver disease and cardiovascular disease.
One of largest increases in region
The 80 per cent increase is one of the largest in the south east — just behind Southampton, with an 85 per cent increase.
Between 2017/18 and 2018/19 alone there was an increase of nearly 1,000 admissions.
Almost twice as many men as women were admitted to hospital, and admissions for both sexes are continuing to rise.
Last year, 2018/19, was the first time female admissions exceeded 1,000 — as 1,260 women were admitted.
Albuquerque: “A ticking time bomb about to explode”
Nuno Albuquerque, Group Treatment Lead at UK Addiction Treatment, said:
“The problem with alcohol in this country is a ticking time bomb about to explode.
“NHS hospitals, in particular across the South East, are crippling under pressures directly attributable to the misuse of alcohol — a drug that is so socially accepted yet so incredibly dangerous.
“People 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, promised back in 2018? It is a huge problem and one that needs immediately addressed as a matter of urgency.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may be been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Image: Matthieu Joannon under CC BY 2.0
