Action urged on problem drinking after 35,000 hospital admissions in one year
More than 6,000 people from the poorest parts of Scotland were hospitalised due to alcohol in 2014-15, compared to just over 800 from the least deprived areas, new figures have revealed.
More than 6,000 people from the poorest parts of Scotland were hospitalised due to alcohol in 2014-15, compared to just over 800 from the least deprived areas, new figures have revealed.
The statistics prompted Labour inequality spokeswoman Monica Lennon to call on the Scottish Government to “do more to tackle this tragic health inequality”.
Over the year 2015-16, there were 34,915 alcohol-related admissions, with 23,431 people treated in both acute and psychiatric hospitals.
While official statistics from the NHS show a “steady decline in alcohol-related hospital stays since 2008/09”, there has been an increase in the number of people who are admitted on multiple occasions over the year.
“This may be contributing to the slowing of the overall decreasing trend in alcohol-related admissions,” the report said.
Meanwhile, a detailed breakdown of statistics for 2014-15 shows in the most deprived parts of Scotland 6,104 people had to be treated in hospital because of alcohol, with drink causing a total of 9,626 admissions.
In the least deprived communities, there were 1,187 hospital admissions involving 812 people.
Ms Lennon said: “That almost eight times as many people in the most deprived areas are being admitted to hospital compared to the least deprived demonstrates the extremely worrying level of health inequality which persists in Scotland.
“Behind these statistics are mums, dads, sons and daughters. There is nothing inevitable about these alcohol-related hospital admissions or indeed poverty.
“The SNP Government can and must do more to tackle this tragic health inequality and reversing cuts to local alcohol and drug partnerships would be an important start.”
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said the current approach to tackling Scotland's drinking culture “simply isn't cutting it”.
He said: “These figures show that Scotland has a persistent unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Almost 100 people a day are admitted to hospital due to alcohol.
“The Scottish Government can do much more than finally introduce minimum pricing. With more and more people being admitted to hospital on multiple occasions due to alcohol, ministers could start by reversing their damaging 20% cut to the drug and alcohol support services that are best placed to intervene and help prevent readmissions.”
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: “These latest statistics highlight the need for continued action to reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland. Despite reductions from historic peaks, there were almost 35,000 alcohol-related admissions in 2015-16 and the rate is still more than four times higher than in the early 1980s.
“Alcohol misuse is common across different age and socio-economic groups. However, as these figures show, the greatest harm is experienced by those who live in the most deprived areas.
“I am pleased that minimum unit pricing was ruled lawful by the Court of Session for the second time last week, having also been considered by the European Court of Justice. It is now time for the drinks industry to accept this ruling - which has already been delayed for more than four years after being passed by Parliament - and the Scottish Government will now look to implement this life-saving policy as soon as possible.”