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Hospital drink cases hit new high | Hospital drink cases hit new high |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The number of patients treated for drink problems in Scottish hospitals has reached an all-time high, according to official figures. | The number of patients treated for drink problems in Scottish hospitals has reached an all-time high, according to official figures. |
There were 42,430 alcohol-related discharges from hospitals in 2007-08, a 20% increase over five years. | There were 42,430 alcohol-related discharges from hospitals in 2007-08, a 20% increase over five years. |
The Scottish Government said it was planning "radical" measures to tackle drink-related problems. | The Scottish Government said it was planning "radical" measures to tackle drink-related problems. |
But opposition parties said ministers had failed to act quickly enough in the face of a growing problem. | |
The figures, published by health statisticians ISD Scotland, said there were 6,817 cases of alcoholic liver disease at hospitals in 2007-08, and 4,646 cases of alcohol poisoning. | The figures, published by health statisticians ISD Scotland, said there were 6,817 cases of alcoholic liver disease at hospitals in 2007-08, and 4,646 cases of alcohol poisoning. |
These statistics clearly illustrate why tough action is needed to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland Peter TerryBMA Scotland Public Health Minister Shona Robison linked the rising figures with a fall in the price of alcohol, and said urgent action was needed. | |
"They show that there were 116 hospital discharges directly due to alcohol-related problems every day in Scotland," she said. | "They show that there were 116 hospital discharges directly due to alcohol-related problems every day in Scotland," she said. |
"This is putting a huge strain on the health service, but it also hints at a great deal of misery for individuals, families and communities." | "This is putting a huge strain on the health service, but it also hints at a great deal of misery for individuals, families and communities." |
Liberal Democrat public health spokesman Jamie Stone said the response to the problem so far had been "more gimmicks than groundbreaking". | |
He added: "This comes despite repeated warnings over the danger of excessive alcohol consumption. The message is just not getting through." | |
Labour's Cathy Jamieson said ministers' plans to tackle the problem were a "dog's dinner". | |
Plans 'delayed' | |
"The Scottish Government has been talking up their resolve to deal with alcohol but so far their plans have been both delayed and roundly criticised," she said. | |
"The SNP needs to ensure that licensing law is fully policed and that children don't get access to alcohol. So far their plans do nothing to tackle this." | "The SNP needs to ensure that licensing law is fully policed and that children don't get access to alcohol. So far their plans do nothing to tackle this." |
Jackson Carlaw, the Tory public health spokesman, said the figures confirmed what most people already knew. | |
He added: "The Scottish Government needs to get back to the drawing board and come up with a more sophisticated strategy, namely, one that targets the growing minority of problem drinkers rather than certain arbitrarily selected groups or, worse still, everyone on a blanket basis regardless of how responsibly they happen to consume alcohol." | |
Peter Terry, who chairs doctors' body BMA Scotland, said alcohol misuse was costing the NHS more than £1m every day. | Peter Terry, who chairs doctors' body BMA Scotland, said alcohol misuse was costing the NHS more than £1m every day. |
"These alcohol statistics clearly illustrate why tough action is needed to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland," he said. | "These alcohol statistics clearly illustrate why tough action is needed to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland," he said. |