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Licensing act could be affecting alcohol-related hospital admissions

The number of adult alcohol-related admissions to an inner London hospital has tripled in the last four years, new research shows.

The three psychiatrists who carried out the study claim the results "raise concerns about the changing of the licensing laws". 1 Moreover, if this trend is repeated in other hospitals in the UK, they believe it will have "significant ramifications" on NHS resources.

The study, which was presented this week at the annual meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Faculty of General and Community Psychiatry, examined trends in alcohol-related treatment at two inner London hospitals - University College Hospital (UCH) and the Whittington Hospital. The data spanned a four-year period (2004-2008) and included both presentations to A&E and medical admissions.

Psychiatrists Dr Andrew Smith, Dr Mrigank Mishra and Dr Christopher McEvedy found that the total number of adult in-patient admissions at the two hospitals rose from 998 in 2004-05, to 2,690 in 2007-08.

There was also an increase in the total number of adult alcohol-related attendances to A&E, from 2,560 in 2004-05 to 3,434 in 2007-08.

However, while figures for UCH demonstrated a direct trend, no apparent trend was seen in the Whittington data. The authors hypothesize this difference is accounted for by the geographic location of the two hospitals. Compared to the Whittington, UCH is located in an area of central London with a higher concentration of bars, pubs and nightclubs. Hence, patients who have consumed excessive quantities of alcohol are more likely to be seen at UCH.

In a separate study, the researchers also examined trends in teenage alcohol-related presentations. No increase in hospital admissions was observed, although the number of A&E attendances for under-18s rose from 98 in 2004/05 to 165 to 2007/08.

The researchers said: "This increase coincides approximately with the change in the licensing laws. While under-18s might not generally be expected to be drinking in licensed premises, the law changes also affected off-licenses which may be of relevance."

They went on to conclude: "Overall, our research raises concerns that, since the changing of licensing laws, an increase in the presentation of alcohol-related illnesses to these hospitals has occurred. A three-fold increase in the total number of adult admissions is noted at one hospital which if repeated at other centres, would have significant ramifications on NHS resources if this trend continues."

Reference

Royal College of Psychiatrists' Faculty of General and Community Psychiatry Annual Meeting, 16-17 October 2008, Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester.

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