Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic - London

BMA Board of Science
The data in Table 6 do not include mortality associated with, but not directly linked to, alcohol
consumption (eg deaths from chronic conditions such as ischaemic stroke, CHD, and various
cancers, as well as acute conditions such as suicide, homicide, and deaths resulting from accidents
or injuries). Information on the number of deaths associated with, but not directly linked to,
alcohol consumption is based on estimates due to the difficulty in attributing causation. It has
been estimated that alcohol misuse accounts for more than 22,000 premature deaths per year in
England, of which 1,000 are suicides. 8
Alcohol-related hospital admissions
Alcohol misuse is a major cause of admission to hospital in both the Accident and Emergency
(A&E) and non-emergency setting. Alcohol may be the direct cause of admission, or may increase
the burden on hospital services by adversely affecting the course of illness following admission.
The PMSU has estimated that 70 per cent of all admissions to A&E at peak times are alcoholrelated.
8
Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of alcohol-related hospital
admissions in the UK, with the most common cause for admission being mental and behavioural
disorders due to alcohol consumption, followed by alcoholic liver disease and toxic effect of
alcohol. m
Box 3 summarises the available data for England and Scotland. Comparative data are not
available for Wales and Northern Ireland.
“”
A&E particularly during the weekend is a nightmare. Staff are usually stretched to
their limits with an over spilling waiting room which looks like a ‘war zone’ as
patients wait, some with bloodstained clothes, to be seen. Staff trying to treat most
of these intoxicated patients have to put up with a torrent of abuse, while clearing
up vomit, urine etc.
BMA member
m Detailed information on the categories included within mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol consumption,
alcoholic liver disease and toxic effect of alcohol can be found in the ICD-10 at www.who.int
Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic 37