THE number of alcohol-related hospital admissions was more than 95,000 in Bradford - almost 30,000 more than the average figure for the region - and the cost of treating alcohol problems reached £27 million, according to new data released today.

A map showing the costs of treating alcohol problems reveals that there were an estimated 62,789 visits to A&E, with 21,088 outpatient appointments and 11,381 inpatient admissions throughout the district in 2012/13.

The findings, taken from Alcohol Concern's updated Alcohol Harm Map, show that while A&E admissions in the district accounted for almost two thirds of alcohol-related hospital visits, it was inpatient admissions that were responsible for two thirds of the total cost burden.

The total cost of alcohol-related treatment in Bradford was estimated to be £27.4m, equating to £68 per adult, which is higher than the regional average of £65. Of this, £7.1m was attributable to A&E visits, with £18.2m the cost of inpatient admissions, and £1.9m the cost of outpatient attendances.

It also reveals that the greater share of the cost burden is spent on treating 55-74 year-olds, at £7.9m, with the 25-54 year-old age group costing £6.5m, £3m for those aged 75 and over, and treating 16-24-year-olds cost an estimated £500,000 - all consistent with the number of alcohol-related admissions per age group.

The research also found that in Bradford the cost of treating men was twice as high as the cost of treating women - male admissions cost £12.3m, while female admissions cost £5.9m.

In Bradford, 78,951 people were classified as either increasing or high risk drinkers and are therefore drinking in excess of Government guidelines. Nineteen per cent were drinking at a level which increases the risk of damaging their health - in line with the regional average - and six per cent were higher risk drinkers.

A total of 200 deaths in the district were attributable to alcohol in 2012, compared to a regional average of 148, with 60 the number of deaths from chronic liver disease.

In addition to detailing the cost of admissions for causes directly related to alcohol misuse, the new map also reveals the burden of a number of additional conditions in which alcohol is a significant contributory factor.

There was a £6.9m cost to the NHS for hypertensive disease inpatient admissions attributable to alcohol consumption alone. And almost half of all head and neck cancer inpatient admissions were attributable to alcohol at a cost to the NHS of £602,000.

Hilary McMullen, Alcohol Commissioning Lead for Bradford Council, said tackling the incidence of alcohol-related hospital admissions was a high priority for Public Health and the Clinical Commissioning Groups.

"Services seek to help people understand the health risks associated with both binge drinking and regular, persistent drinking," she said.

"Through the alcohol primary care services and the Alcohol Care Teams in hospital we aim to reach people before they become seriously ill.

"Patients who are admitted to hospital with an alcohol-related health problem are now being identified earlier on in their admission and referred to the Alcohol Care Team to receive the help and advice they require in order to address their alcohol use."

Alcohol Concern chief executive Jackie Ballard said: “The NHS is now facing an intolerable strain from alcohol-related illnesses. This is not just from readily-identifiable causes such as A&E visits and admissions for liver disease, but from a significant number of other conditions in which alcohol plays a major, but often under-appreciated part."

“We need to ensure adequate alcohol care pathways are prioritised and appropriate services are put in place to ease this burden. "However, we also urgently need action to prevent alcohol misuse; the first and most effective of which is for the government to implement a minimum unit price, which has the potential to save the economy millions, and most importantly save lives."

Anyone concerned about their alcohol misuse should contact their GP. Alternatively, people affected by their own or someone else’s alcohol misuse can contact the Piccadilly Project in Bradford on 01274 735775 or Project 6 in Airedale on (01535) 610180 for support.