NHS Alcohol Costs Causing A Hospital Hangover

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 06 Jan 2010 - 1:00 PDT

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A massive rise in the numbers of people drinking heavily and the cost of treating them is creating an unsustainable burden on NHS hospitals but more could be done to ease existing pressures, says an NHS Confederation report published recently.

Too Much of the hard stuff: What alcohol costs the NHS, from the NHS Confederation and the Royal College of Physicians shows that the cost to the NHS of excess drinking has doubled in just five years, with most of the cost being spent on hospital and ambulance services.

It suggests better and more cost effective care could be provided by improving systems to identify, assess and treat patients within hospital and learn from existing best practice. The authors of the report examine the benefits improved links between mental health, community and ambulance teams can bring to patients care and hospital systems.

The report argues these links are vital if patients are to receive access to the right kinds of treatment at the right time. It highlights such improved processes for assessment, alongside improved communications between A&E staff, mental health teams, and community and ambulance services which can help save as many as 1,000 bed days a year per hospital.

Steve Barnett, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, says the report highlights the growing pressures alcohol is putting on staff and services, and the need to improve how patients receive treatment.

"With only 1 in 18 people dependent on alcohol receiving treatment, and wide variation in the types of specialist services available, we know that more needs to be done to help identify and treat patients.

"This report shows that not only are we drinking too much but that the cost to our health services is increasing.

"The NHS can play a part in ensuring that treatment is provided for people who are exhibiting the early stages of an addiction to alcohol and by running its services more effectively but a reappraisal of social attitudes to drinking is also well overdue.

"We hope this report helps to outline the scale of the problems facing the NHS and acts as a warning that if we carry on drinking in the way that we are currently, the bar bill will be paid in worse health and a health system struggling to cope."

Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians said:

"The nation's growing addiction to alcohol is putting an immense strain on health services, especially in hospitals, costing the NHS over £2.7billion each year. This burden is no longer sustainable.

"The role of the NHS should not just be about treating the consequences of alcohol related-harm but also about active prevention, early intervention, and working in partnership with services in local communities to raise awareness of alcohol related harm."

The report: Much of the hard stuff: What alcohol costs the NHS can be downloaded from the NHS Confederation website or is available from the press team.

Spokespeople for broadcast bids are available from both the NHS Confederation and Royal College of Physicians.

Notes

The Royal College of Physicians of London provides a huge range of services to its 20,000 Members and Fellows and other medical professionals. These include delivering examinations, training courses, continuous professional development and conferences; undertaking clinical audits; publishing newsletters, guidelines and books through to maintaining the College's historical collections. It also leads medical debate, and lobbies and advises government and other decision-makers on behalf of its members.

Source
The NHS Confederation

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