Alcohol is an 'enormous' burden on hospital emergency departments

Alcohol is an 'enormous' burden on hospital emergency departments

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Alcohol is imposing an “enormous” burden on hospital emergency departments, with one in five presentations related to alcohol use, according to research.

The study calls for the “urgent” establishment of dedicated, specialist resources in EDs to address the problem.

Resources would include alcohol-care teams, which would bring together hospitals, GPs, and community care. Researchers say these have proven beneficial in the UK.

The study was conducted in two blocks, during which the Government introduced minimum unit pricing (MUP). 

Researchers noted that alcohol-related ED admissions reduced following MUP, but stressed it was not possible to conclude there was a direct effect.

Enacted in January 2022, MUP sets a legally required floor price for alcohol with the intent of removing the cheapest drink from the market – with the overall aim of reducing alcohol harm.

A total of 970 patients attended Beaumont ED during the study period and 725 (73%) were interviewed. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos
A total of 970 patients attended Beaumont ED during the study period and 725 (73%) were interviewed. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

Researchers at Beaumont Hospital in north Dublin carried out their work during November and December 2021 and again in February and March 2022.

A total of 970 patients attended Beaumont ED during the study period and 725 (73%) were interviewed.

Some 54% were female, but there were more male alcohol-related presentations (63%) than female (37%).

The 40-50 age group was more associated with alcohol presentations than other age cohorts.

The research said the most common presenting complaints were acute injuries, chest complaints, and mental health queries.

Beer was the preferred drink (40%), followed by wine (24%) and spirits (20%).

“Both independent periods showed a considerable burden of alcohol-related presentations and admissions,” said the study.

“Overall, as many as one in five (19.4%) ED presentations and one in six (17.3%) ED admissions were alcohol-related.

Moreover, one in 30 (3.1%) ED admissions were wholly attributable to alcohol consumption, representing a significant burden as a direct consequence of alcohol.” 

The research, published in the journal Public Health, said MUP was introduced during its study and that there was a significant reduction afterward in alcohol-related presentations.

But it said that a larger study in Scotland and England did not find any evidence of a beneficial impact as a result of MUP being introduced there.

The research said there was a need for a specific response to alcohol-related presentations in Ireland.

“Our findings primarily highlight the significant burden of alcohol in the ED and urgently calls for dedicated, specialist resources in EDs to address the burden of alcohol,” the report said.

It said one example was an “alcohol care team” (ACT), which is a clinician-led multi-disciplinary team with integrated treatment across hospitals, primary care, and community care.

The study said such teams in the UK had had benefits in reducing acute hospital admissions, readmissions, and mortality from alcohol.

“Despite these benefits, ACTs are yet to be supported in Ireland,” it said. 

“There may be a case for combining these local dedicated services with effective alcohol policies to tackle the enormous alcohol-related burden in hospitals.”

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