Alcohol misuse a burden on NHS Western Isles

“Well over £1million”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant says the misuse of alcohol is imposing a substantial burden on the resources of the NHS in the Western Isles.

To raise awareness of the extent of the drain on the NHS in the Western Isles, Mrs. Grant released figures from government sources that estimate the cost last year of alcohol harm to four services in NHS Western Isles.

In total it is estimated that the cost of emergency ambulance call outs, Accident and Emergency attendances, outpatient appointments, and hospital beds occupied those with alcohol related conditions came to well over £1million.

“Alcohol over-consumption”

Mrs. Grant said: “These bleak figures illustrate the immense strain that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol forces is putting on the NHS by consuming vital hospital and ambulance services.

“Just as attitudes and habits towards smoking have changed so must they change towards alcohol.

“Moderate drinking is both pleasant and socially acceptable. Heavy drinking is neither, and its inevitable consequence is serious damage to health.

“As Parliament considers how to regulate the drinks industry, Scottish Labour has already established its Alcohol Commission that is looking at a range of reasonable and efficient alternatives that would tackle alcohol over-consumption in Scotland and which could include alternative pricing mechanisms.”

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