Alcohol abuse adds to pressure on health care

The Northern Ireland Chief Medical Officer has said results in her annual report have shown alcohol misuse is adding to hospital pressures and causing unnecessary deaths.

Dr Henrietta Campbell’s annual report on the health of the public in Northern Ireland, published on Wednesday March 13 draws specific attention to the impact of alcohol misuse on health and the health service.

“150 people die here each year as a direct result of alcohol misuse, and a further 650 die because of diseases or injuries related to alcohol,” Dr Campbell said.

“Alcohol is also a major contributory factor to the current pressures being experienced by acute hospitals, particularly the A&E Departments and medical wards. One recent study revealed that 40 per cent of admissions to an acute medical ward over a six month period were related to alcohol abuse.”

In her report, Dr Campbell also expresses concern about the health behaviour of young people.

Surveys showed that 35 per cent of young people have smoked tobacco and half of those aged between 15 and 16 years old have been intoxicated within the previous 30 days.

The Chief Medical Officer’s report also focuses on a number of significant events during 2001.

The report shows that the 2001/02 flu vaccination programme was very successful with 68 per cent of men and women aged 65 having been vaccinated by the end of November. Dr Campbell said: “This has undoubtedly saved many lives and prevented much ill health.”

The Chief Medical Officer’s Report also gives an overview of the health of the people of Northern Ireland. Early estimates from the 2001 census indicate that the number of older people in our community is continuing to increase year on year.

The number of births continues to fall. In 2000 there were 21,512 babies born, this compares with 27,427 in 1985.

The downward trend in infant mortality rates has been maintained with the 2000 rate of 5.1 deaths per 1000 live babies being the lowest to date.

(AMcE)