Women Hospitalisations Due to Alcohol Poisoning Up By Two-Thirds In Norfolk

6.19.00pm GMT Mon 23rd Mar 2009

Across Norfolk, the number of women being admitted to hospital for alcohol poisoning in the last five years has increased by 65 pc, figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have revealed. The figures also reveal a 57 pc increase in male admissions to hospital for alcohol poisoning.

In Norfolk PCT area in the year 07/08, 157 women were admitted to hospital for alcohol, compared with 95 in 03/04 (65 pc increase).

Commenting on the data, released in answer to a Parliamentary Question, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South said:

"Many people still assume that alcohol abuse and drunkenness is a problem that mainly affects young men, but these figures reveal the shocking truth of alcohol abuse amongst women. More admissions to hospital for alcohol poisoning were made by women than men last year, and the figures are growing faster amongst women.

"Communities across Norfolk are forced to endure a culture of binge drinking, but this problem also puts substantial demands on police resources and impacts on our county's health workers.

"These figures show that current Government strategies on health messages aren't getting through - particularly to some women.

"There is an urgent and real need to extend alcohol education in schools, improve access to treatment and counselling for those people with problems, and to end the practice of selling alcohol for pennies in supermarkets."

Notes to Editors

1. The figures relating to hospital admissions for alcohol poisoning in England are attached in the Excel sheet. Note that PCT boundaries changed in Norfolk in 2006. The area now covered by Norfolk PCT was previously covered by Norwich, West Norfolk, Southern Norfolk, North Norfolk and Broadland PCTs.

2. The Parliamentary Question was tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster and can be found here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090312/text/90312w0026.htm#09031289001105 <http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090312/text/90312w0026.htm#09031289001105>

3. The Liberal Democrats are committed to ensuring that all A&E departments use alcohol screening tests with appropriate referrals to Alcohol Health Workers. Evidence suggests that when used in A&E departments this reduces incidences of harmful drinking and future attendance in A&E departments.

Alcohol Health Workers would be there to provide support, advice and information to patients on their alcohol use, the impact it has on their health, and discuss ways to make changes to their drinking habits.

The Liberal Democrats will also set up an independent commission to assess how alcohol treatment services can be improved. We will then use the Alcohol Trust model to direct funding from the alcohol industry directly to treatment services.