'Social issues' that cost hospitals £100k

Social problems like homelessness and alcoholism cost hospital chiefs in Sunderland almost £100,000 during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.

NHS Digital data shows some260emergencycareadmissions to South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust had a diagnosis of

"social problems” – including chronic alcoholism and homelessness – in

2020-21, costing the

Trust £99,052 to treat.

Although down from 330 the year before – when the issue cost £102,216 – charities say illnesses caused by social issuesareagrowingproblem for health services.

The figures also cover a rangeofothercategories–includingnutritionaldisorder, safeguarding abuse, social problemsinschoolsandpoor social circumstances.

More than 50,500 patients were admitted to hospitals,minorinjuryunitsand walk-in centres with issues such as these in England last year – up from 48,300 the year before – but the £21.1m cost was up from £13.m.

MattDownie,chiefexecutive of homeless charity Crisis, said something as simple as lack of ID can make goingtoaGPimpossible for people experiencing homelessness – meaning healthissuesoften are not addressed until a critical point.

"The fact that people are accessing treatment ispositive,butthefocusmust be on getting tailored health care support early," he said.

In terms of cost, social problems was ranked 32nd out of the 38 different types of emergency care diagnosis listed at the South Tyneside and Sunderland Trust and was responsible for less than one per cent of its £43.2m total costs.