Alcohol-related hospital admissions in Bolton are costing the NHS £11.9m a year, new figures suggest.

The most recent figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show hospital admissions with a alcohol-related diagnosis in Bolton cost the NHS an estimated £11,863,000 in the year to March 2021.

There were 4,705 alcohol-related hospital admissions in Bolton across this period.

It meant the cost per capita in the area was about £51 – slightly above the national level of £49 per person.

Comparing these figures to Bury, hospital admissions in this area cost the NHS an estimated £7,551,000 in the year to March 2021.

There were 2,973 alcohol-related hospital admissions in Bury across this period.

It meant the cost per capita in the area was about £49 – in line with the national cost per person.

And comparing Bolton figures to Salford figures, hospital admissions in Salford cost the NHS an estimated £14,080,000 in the year to March 2021.

There were 5,267 alcohol-related hospital admissions in Salford across this period.

It meant the cost per capita in the area was about £66 – well above the national level of £49 per person.

Tyrone Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our alcohol team work hard to support those who need their help and we have expanded the amount of people in the team, as well as moving to a seven day a week service. 

“This expansion has not only helped to increase the number of people seen, but our introduction of fibroscan testing allows the team to scan and assess any damage to the liver.

 “All of these improvements have seen the number of patients discharged from our Emergency Department increase from 14 per cent to 32 per cent.”

Cllr Sean Fielding, executive cabinet member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing said: “It goes without saying that those who enjoy a drink should do so responsibly, though for people with alcohol dependency that is often easier said than done.

“Whilst a proportion of the people counted in these numbers will be those who have perhaps partied too hard, the underlying trend in the figures reflects the decimation of early-help preventative services caused by Conservative Government cuts to the councils who commission them.

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“Many of the cuts made by the Conservatives over the last 14 years didn’t have an immediate impact, and this is an example where the costs are being borne more than a decade later.

“What might have saved a few hundred thousand back in 2010 is now costing the public purse millions in 2024; a complete false economy.”

Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, said: "It's important to recognise that there are more people struggling with alcohol problems in the UK than most of us realise, and that the number of people being affected by alcohol harm is increasing.

"Alcohol care teams are currently available in some hospitals in the UK. But we need them to be available in every major hospital, working across hospital departments and with community alcohol services, to ensure that people struggling with alcohol problems receive the help they need.

“We also need to put prevention measures in place to stop people reaching the stage when they need to attend hospital in the first place."

Across England, OHID estimates admissions to hospital with a primary diagnosis of an alcohol-related condition, or a secondary diagnosis with an alcohol-related external cause cost the NHS £2.2 billion in 2020-21.

It was up from £1.9 billion estimated for 2019-20.

A Government spokesperson said: "Alcohol use can ruin lives and destroy families which is why we are acting to support those most at risk."

They said a record £532 million of additional investment has been made through to 2024-25 to improve drug and alcohol treatment and recovery service as part of a ten-year drug strategy.

The added: "We are also funding specialist alcohol care teams at one in four hospitals in England, based on those with the greatest need."

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.