336 alcohol-related deaths in Derbyshire

The total is £4 million more than the East Midlands average and now local health bosses are asking people to use next week’s Alcohol Awareness Week (November 17-23) as a time to think carefully about their relationship with alcohol, especially in the run up to the festive period.

The statistics, released by Alcohol Concern, also show that there were 336 alcohol-related deaths in Derbyshire for the period 2012-13 and that 134,278 people in the county were admitted to hospital with alcohol-related issues.

Dr Ben Milton, chair of NHS North Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Alcohol-related illnesses are putting a huge strain on the NHS, not just from visits to A&E, but from a significant number of other conditions requiring treatment in which alcohol plays a major, but often unremarked part.

“With almost ten million alcohol-related hospital admissions nationally we can see just how serious an impact unsafe levels of alcohol consumption is having on our health system.”

The theme for this year’s awareness week is ‘Facing our alcohol problem: taking back our health and high streets’ and local authorities and organisations are working together to raise awareness of alcohol issues and the impact it can have on the health of people and the communities they live in.

For advice on sensible drinking, visit www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol.