‘Alarming’ hike in drink fuelled disease City’s hospital admissions for alcoholic liver illness hit record high
Hospital admissions for alcoholic liver disease have hit a record high in Sunderland, new figures reveal.
Health charity the British Liver Trust says an "alarming" number of people are drinking too much - driven by a shift from pub to home drinking as prices become increasingly affordable.
In Sunderland, 305 people were admitted to hospital with liver disease caused by excessive alcohol intake in 2018-19, according to figures from Public Health England
At roughly 109 admissions per 100,000 population, that is the highest rate since comparable records began in 2010-11.
Alcohol is the most common cause of liver disease in
England, and victims are often unaware of it until the organ has suffered liver severe damage, when more serious symptoms such as yellowing skin, abdominal swelling and severe weight loss can develop.
Sunderland’s admission rate is much higher than across the whole of the North East, where there were 69 admissions per 100,000 population on average.
The region’s rate is itself the highest in the country, in contrast to the South East which has a rate of 30 per 100,000.
Pamela Healy, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: "These alarming figures hammer home what we already know to be true.
“Sadly, men and women who live in the deprived areas in England are up to six times more likely to die from alcohol-related liver disease than those who live in wealthier areas.
"There is a common misconception that you have to be an 'alcoholic' to have liver disease.
“This is simply not correct . Millions of people in the UK drink at a level that is putting our health at risk.”
She added: "This has been driven by a shift in the drinking culture where drinking at home has become increasingly acceptable and affordable.”
She added that the Government needs to take "urgent action" by increasing the price of alcohol and introducing clearer labelling to help people understand drinking limits.
Rosanna O’Connor, director of drugs, alcohol and tobacco at Public Health England said: "It’s vital that those drinking too much or at risk get the help they need when it’s needed.”