New official figures show alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2004-05 have risen by 15 per cent since 1996-97. The figures, released to the Liberal Democrats, show that 4,809 people under 18 received in-patient care in 2004-2005 compared with 4,173 eight years before. The illnesses include alcohol-related liver disease including cirrhosis, mental behaviour disorders and acute intoxication.
At the same time there was a 30 per cent increase in the number of adults admitted to hospital for drink-related disorders, up from 35,740 to 46,299.
Daily Telegraph story here, BBC here, Daily Mirror here.
These figures do not show admissions for alcohol-related accidents, falls, assaults etc. Information on alcohol-related disease coding in the useful North West Public Health Observatory publication Taking Measures (Appendix 4).
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