Rising number of people admitted to hospital with alcohol-related problems

Alcohol related emergency readmissions have risen by 45%

HOSPITALS in Leicestershire are seeing rising numbers of people repeatedly admitted with alcohol-related problems.

Emergency readmissions for conditions caused by alcohol within 30 days of being discharged for a similar issue have risen by 45% in the past five years.

Between April 2016 and March 2019, there were 450 emergency admissions within a month of a previous visit to A&E for people from Leicester. That was up from 310 in the three years to March 2014.

The figures, from NHS Digital, cover admissions and readmissions that are attributable to the consumption of alcohol. This includes alcoholic liver disease and the toxic effect of alcohol.

Between April 2016 and March 2019, people who live in the East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group area had 105 re(CCG) admissions. This was 20 more than during the three years to March 2018.

Re-admissions at Leicester City CCG have almost doubled in the last five years. The figure now stands at 245.

Re-admissions for people living in the West Leicester CCG area have also increased by 49% over the same period, with 100 patients back in the hospital within a month of being discharged because of alcohol.

East Leicestershire and Rutland

was the only area to improve in the last five years. Staff there recorded a 12% drop in re-admissions compared to the 119 recorded in the three years to March 2014.

Addaction is a charity that deals with substance misuse, as well as those struggling with alcohol consumption. The charity helps individuals try and alter their behaviours.

Lee Derrick is the criminal justice and outreach team leader for Addaction Cornwall, who runs a scheme designed to reduce the number of people returning to the hospital as an emergency. He described the issue of frequent attenders as a “massive problem.”

“Some of the people who are presenting are because of social reasons,” said Mr Derrick.

“People are found intoxicated on the street and will be taken to the hospital as a place of safety.

“They sober up and then will be discharged sometimes out of hours so their issues will not get dealt with.”

Mr Derrick believes the best solution is a “multi-agency approach”, and describes the service in Cornwall as “very successful”, adding that it has reduced the number of A&E attendances.

Charities like Addaction work alongside police forces, hospital staff and local mental health and homeless services.

The process involves exploring why individuals keep returning to hospital.

Cases can involve an elderly person or someone who has been in and out of prison.