30,000 visits to A&E due to drink

There were more than 30,000 drink-related admissions to The Royal Oldham Hospital (which covers Rochdale as well as Oldham) accident and emergency unit in 2012-13 and almost 100 deaths, a report by Alcohol Concern has revealed.

The statistics reflect the picture across the North-West, which recorded 3,500 alcohol-related deaths.

Booze-related hospital admissions across the region the NHS £434.2 million.

The findings show that 1.3 million people in the region are classified as high-risk drinkers, and that just over a quarter of Oldhamers were drinking in excess of government guidelines.

Excessive drinking also increases cases of throat and gastrointestinal cancers.

Alcohol Concern chief executive Jackie Ballard said: “The NHS is now facing an intolerable strain from alcohol-related illnesses.”