Page last updated: 26-JUL-2010

Alcohol

ONS kitemarkStatistical Publication Notice

23 February 2010

Alcohol-related Hospital Statistics

INTRODUCTION

This biennial publication presents the latest available information on alcohol-related discharges from general acute and psychiatric hospitals.  Information on alcohol-related discharges from general acute hospitals is presented for period 2004/05 to 2008/09.  Data on alcohol-related discharges from psychiatric hospitals is provided for period 2003/04 to 2007/08.

KEY POINTS

  • The number of alcohol-related discharges from general acute hospitals in Scotland decreased from 43,045 discharges in 2007/08 to 41,922 discharges in 2008/09. 
  • Over the period 2004/05 to 2008/09 the number of alcohol-related discharges from general acute hospitals increased by 9%.
  • In 2008/09 the rate of alcohol-related discharges from general acute hospitals was 6.8 times greater in the most deprived than least deprived group. 
  • Harmful use was recorded in 13,694 discharges from general acute hospitals in Scotland during 2008/09.
  • The number of alcohol-related discharges from psychiatric hospitals in Scotland between 2003/04 and 2007/08 decreased by 15%.

INTERPRETATION

Prior to the publication of Alcohol Statistics Scotland 2009, ISD carried out an in-depth internal review of its core alcohol-related code set.  Figures presented in this publication are based on the the code set and more information on the review and resulting consulation process is available at:-
 
Since publication of Alcohol Statistics Scotland 2009, the Substance Misuse team at ISD have made a revision to how analysis is carried out on the SMR01 dataset.  This means that the figures presented in this publication on alcohol-related discharges from general acute hospitals are not directly comparable with previous publications.  More information on these changes can be found at:-

DETAILED FINDINGS

General acute hospital discharges in Scotland with an alcohol-related diagnosis:-

  • The number of alcohol-related discharges from general acute hospitals in Scotland decreased from 43,045 discharges (a rate of 788 discharges per 100,000 population) in 2007/08 to 41,922 discharges in 2008/09 (a rate of 762 discharges per 100,000 population). 
  • Over the period 2004/05 to 2008/09 the number of alcohol-related discharges from general acute hospitals increased by 9%.
  • In 2008/09, the average number of alcohol-related discharges per patient was 1.5.
  • During 2008/09, over 70% of alcohol-related discharges were male.
  • Between 2004/05 and 2008/09, the rate of alcohol-related discharges consistently increased for the 30-34 years and 35-39 years age groups.  For the 30-34 years age group, the rate increased from 674 discharges per 100,000 population in 2004/05 to 825 discharges per 100,000 population in 2008/09.  In the 35-39 years age group, the rate increased from 823 discharges per 100,000 population in 2004/05 to 977 dicharges per 100,000 population in 2008/09.  
  • Harmful use was recorded in 13,964 discharges from general acute hospitals in Scotland during 2008/09.
  • During 2008/09, there were 2,858 alcohol-related discharges for people in the least deprived category (a rate of 253 discharges per 100,000 population) compared with 17,469 alcohol-related discharges in the most deprived category (a rate of 1,715 discharges per 100,000 population).
  • In 2008/09 the rate of alcohol-related discharges from general acute hospitals was 6.8 times greater in the most deprived than least deprived category. 
  • Of the 41,922 alcohol-related discharges in 2008/09, 92% of discharges relate to an emergency admission.

Psychiatric hospital discharges in Scotland with an alcohol-related diagnosis:-

  • In 2003/04, there were 4,507 alcohol-related discharges (a rate of 86 per 100,000 population) from psychiatric hospitals in Scotland.  By 2007/08, the number of alcohol related discharges had decreased to 3,852 alcohol-related discharges (a rate of 73 discharges per 100,000 population).
  • Between 2003/04 and 2007/08 the number of alcohol-related discharges from psychiatric hospitals decreased by 15%.
  • In 2007/08, the average number of alcohol-related discharges per patient from psychiatric hospitals in Scotland was 1.2.
  • Approximately, two-thirds of alcohol-related discharges from psychiatric hospitals in Scotland were male in 2007/08.
  • Alcohol dependence was recorded in 2,648 alcohol-related discharges from psychiatric hospitals (a rate of 50 discharges per 100,000 population).
  • In 2007/08, there were 246 alcohol-related discharges (a rate of 22 discharges per 100,000 population) in the least deprived group compared with 1,628 alcohol-related discharges in the most deprived category (a rate of 163 discharges per 100,000 population).
  • In 2007/08, the rate of alcohol-related discharges was 7.4 times higher in the most deprived than least deprived category. 
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MAIN CONTACTS:

Paul McAleer
Information Analyst/ Statistician
0131 275 7067
paulmcaleer@nhs.net

Lee Davies
Programme Principal
0131 275 6193
lee.davies2@nhs.net

Chris Black
Information Analyst/ Statistician
0131 275 7449
chrisblack@nhs.net

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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS:

Under terms of the "Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008", ISD are obliged to publish information on those receiving Pre-Release Access ("Pre-Release Access" refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum Pre-Release Access is five working days. Shown below are details of those receiving standard Pre-Release Access and, separately, those receiving extended Pre-Release Access.
 
Standard (five day) Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads
 
Extended Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
This extended Pre-Release Access is given to a small number of named individuals in the Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division). This Pre-Release Access is for the sole purpose of enabling that department to gain an understanding of the statistics prior to briefing others in Scottish Government (during the period of standard Pre-Release Access).
 
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published: December 2007
Next Due: February 2012
Data Available Since: 2007

 


Main contact: Email Paul McAleer