Thousands of people admitted to Bedford Hospital for drinking too much alcohol

Over the past year, 3,940 patients were admitted to Bedford Hospital with a diagnosis linked to alcohol.

This compares to 2,550 who were seen at Bedford six years ago - a rise of 55 per cent.

Analysis of the statistics has been done by alcohol addiction treatment experts UKAT.

It said conditions for hospital admissions due to alcohol included cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, alcohol poisoning and alcoholic liver disease.

And across the region, the number of men greatly outweighs the number of women admitted in 2018/19 due to alcohol even though the total number of people admitted has increased.

Nuno Albuquerque, group treatment lead at addiction firm UKAT said: “The problem with alcohol in this country is a ticking time bomb about to explode. NHS Hospitals in particular across the East of England are crippling under pressures directly attributable to the misuse of alcohol; a drug that is so socially accepted yet so incredibly dangerous.

“People here are seemingly struggling with their alcohol consumption; drinking so much alcohol that it is leading to hospitalisation and the diagnosis of further, debilitating conditions, yet the Government continues to have their heads buried in the sand.

“The question is, why do we still not have an alcohol-specific strategy, as promised back in 2018? It is a huge problem and one that needs immediately addressed as a matter of urgency.”

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