ALCOHOL-related hospital admissions in Bradford are costing the NHS £19.7 million a year.

The most recent figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show hospital admissions with a primary or secondary alcohol-related diagnosis in Bradford cost the NHS an estimated £19,658,000 in the year to March 2021.

There were 8,989 alcohol-related hospital admissions in Bradford across this period.

It meant the cost per capita in the area was about £47 – slightly below the national level of £49 per person.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sarah Muckle, Director of Public Health at Bradford Council, said: “Providing support for people who want to cut down is a priority.

“Bradford Teaching Hospitals routinely assess everyone over the age of 18 who gets admitted to a ward for alcohol use.

"The trust received funding to implement a specialist Alcohol Care Team (ACT), to provide education to patients about how alcohol may be impacting their health.

"The ACT also supports patients who are undergoing an unplanned detox due to being in hospital.

"The ACT is also in the process of carrying out staff training in A&E, so that all patients who present at Bradford Royal Infirmary are screened for alcohol use.

"Since the team was established in January 2023, they have fully assessed 1,235 patients, referred 641 into community services and reduced the length of stay in hospital.

“Our work with partners is focusing on prevention, education and providing treatment where this is needed.

"Due to additional Government investment to drug and alcohol treatment and recovery we are expanding our work in these areas in 2024/25 including more alcohol treatment places through increased staffing; awareness raising and brief intervention training being delivered to services working with children and parents/carers; and in early summer we will launch an online tool in facilitating self-risk assessment of alcohol use, as well as personalised feedback and access to online coaching sessions.

"If people have concerns about their own, or someone else’s drinking, help and support is available with New Vision Bradford: call 01274 296023.”

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.

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