Alcohol Health Pressures

New information disclosed by Hornchurch & Rainham MP and Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Brokenshire has revealed the health toll of excessive alcohol consumption.  Analysis of alcohol related admissions through A&E departments across England since the introduction of Labour’s licensing laws highlights the strain on hospital staff.  Between 2004/5 and 2007/8, finished admissions through casualty departments in England of patients with an alcohol-related condition jumped from 337,549 to 448,813 – an increase of 33%.

But Barking Havering & Redbridge NHS Trust - which runs the Queen’s Hospital in Romford and King George’s Hospital in Ilford - saw a bigger increase.  Alcohol related A&E admissions jumped from 4,048 to 6,048 - a rise of nearly 50%.  The information was obtained by James Brokenshire in response to a Parliamentary question to the Department of Health. 

Commenting James said:

“These figures are a stark reminder of the increasing pressures excessive drinking is placing on our emergency services.  Across the country doctors and nurses in casualty departments are having to deal with the health consequences of binge boozing with this area seeing a higher than average increase in admissions. 

“What is becoming increasingly clear is that we need a change of approach.  That’s why I support plans which would strengthen licensing enforcement, ban below cost sales of alcohol and use targeted taxes on those products most closely linked to binge drinking.”

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