THE number of people admitted to Warrington Hospital because of alcohol has risen by 11 per cent in six years.

In 2018/19, 4990 people were admitted with an alcohol related illness up from 4,490 in 2012/13.

Almost 200,000 people were admitted to hospitals across the north west because of alcohol in 2018, the NHS data has revealed.

Analysis of the statistics by alcohol addiction treatment experts UKAT reveals that the number of people admitted into hospital because of alcohol has risen across the region by 18 per cent since 2012/13, and is a figure that has continued to rise for the last six years.

In 2018/19, 192,250 people admitted to hospital where the primary reason or a secondary diagnosis was linked to alcohol, 7 per cent more than the previous year.

Conditions for hospital admission due to alcohol include cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, alcohol poisoning, and alcoholic liver disease.

Men accounted for106,680 of these admissions while the number of women stands at 56,490.

UKAT’s analysis shows the areas with the highest number of alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2018/19 include Lancashire, 31,530 Liverpool,14,270 Manchester, 12,370 and Cumbria, 11,790.

Only Wigan has seen a reduction in the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions, falling from 9,140 in 2012/13 to 9,020 in 2018/19.

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 north west 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.”

For help, advice and local alcohol support services, visit www.ukat.co.uk/alcohol/v7/