Shock rise in deaths from liver disease in North West (From Wirral Globe)

Shock rise in deaths from liver disease in North West

1:04pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News By Geoff Barnes

SHOCK new figures show that the number of men dying from liver disease in the North West shot up by 20% in five years.

A new report – “Burden of Liver Disease and Inequalities in the North West of England” –shows between 2005 and 2010 deaths per 100,000 population escalated from 27 to 30.9.

Alcohol-related liver failure accounted for 47% of liver disease deaths in men and 43% in women – the majority of victims coming from deprived areas.

Deaths for many also came at a relatively young age with peak ages being 55 to 64. Wirral has a reputation as one of the worst places in the country for hospital admissions caused through drink.

Figures released last year showed that the numbers for the district went up from 8,686 in 2008/9 to 8,707, in 2009/10.

At the same time statistics compiled by the NHS Formation centre revealed more than a million hospital visits in relation to alcohol – a 12% increase on the previous year.

Councillor Anne McArdle, Wirral Council cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said then: “We all know there is a close link between this rise in admissions and the cheap price and easy availability of alcohol.”

She added; “In Wirral our multi-agency approach has led to the rise being much smaller than anticipated – proving that this approach to the issue does work.”

The report also showed that death from liver diseases were 42% higher in the north west compared to the rest of England (23.5 per 100,000 as against 16.6 per 100,000 for the rest of the country.

Hospital admissions for liver disease as a primary diagnosis increased 30% between 2005/6 and 2010/11 (from 6,413 to 8,334).

In September, revelations about problems stemming from cheap booze were put before Wirral licensing authority.

Members were told that imposing a minimum UK pricing strategy for alcohol of 50p per unit could prevent 3,400 deaths annually, 100,000 hospital admissions, 300,000 days off sick and 46,000 crimes.

In the following March, however, the council ruled against setting a minimum price for alcohol in the borough after being advised by the then council leader Cllr Jeff Green to strike the right balance between tackling alcohol abuse without hitting responsible moderate drinkers.

The council was also informed that the government had also proposed measures to prevent the heavy discounting of alcohol at booze outlets.