“Alcohol is a factor in 38 per cent of domestic violence cases and, in 2006-07, there were over 800,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions, an increase of 71 per cent in the last four years alone.  The evidence is clear: England has a drink problem.” 

“Despite the shocking scale of alcohol abuse, many Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are failing to grasp the nettle and take action.  The report finds that 22 per cent of PCTs had not assessed the local need for alcohol misuse services since January 2004 and only 58 per cent of PCTs were developing a local alcohol strategy.  PCTs rightly decide on what their priorities should be locally but, for many Trusts, there is little correlation between need and expenditure.” 

“Earlier this week, the Greater Norfolk coroner expressed his concern over the increasing number of alcohol-related deaths and the latest figures show that 14,330 people were hospitalised last year in Norfolk due to alcohol-related harm.  I have written to NHS Norfolk, asking them to examine this report closely and to let me know what steps they are taking to combat the rising tide of alcohol misuse.”

Mr Bacon was speaking as the Commons public accounts committee published its report on England’s health services for alcohol misuse.  The report finds that alcohol misuse is a significant and growing problem in England, with more than 10 million people regularly drinking above the guidelines set by the government.  Alcohol misuse places a considerable burden on the National Health Service (NHS), costing an estimated £2.7 billion per year.  In 2006–07, there were some 811,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions, representing a 71 per cent increase in four years. Between 12 and 5am on weekend nights, nearly three-quarters of all attendances at accident and emergency (A&E) departments are alcohol-related.  According to the 2008-09 British Crime Survey, 38 per cent of cases of domestic violence occurred when the offender was under the influence of alcohol.

The report finds that Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are responsible for determining local health priorities and have control over the majority of NHS spending. PCTs are free to decide for themselves how much to spend on services to address alcohol harm. Many PCTs, however, do not know what they spend on such services and across England there is little correlation between need and expenditure. Where services are commissioned there is frequently a lack of performance monitoring and examination of whether what is provided represents value for money.

Earlier this week, Greater Norfolk coroner Mr William Armstrong warned that an increasing number of deaths in the county were alcohol-related.  According to the Association of Public Health Observatories, 14,300 people were admitted to hospital in Norfolk last year due to alcohol-related harm.