We need more help to tackle alcoholism

As cases of liver disease continue to rise, a liver specialist has made a desperate plea for more funding to be ploughed into helping people with alcohol problems.

Dr Martin Phillips, gastroenterologist and liver consultant from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said the lack of money for dedicated services in the county was contributing to the rise in alcohol-related illnesses and diseases.

He also revealed there were no psychiatrists at the N&N to help people with alcohol addiction. In other hospitals in the region, such as Addenbrooke's in Cambridge, there are dedicated psychiatrists to help people overcome alcohol problems.

Dr Phillips said: “People with liver disease are getting younger and there are more cases each year, but we have not got the funding to support them.

“I am seeing people as young as 27 with cirrhosis caused by excessive drinking. We can treat patients who come in but there needs to be ongoing care.

“Because of a lack of funding there are no psychiatrists to help people at the hospital. It means if patients come in with alcohol-related liver problems they go home after treatment and the problem has not been sorted out. We desperately need more funds to help these people.”

Dr Phillips said in the last 30 years deaths from cirrhosis (disease of the liver) have risen by 800pc.

He said there were a number of factors which contributed to increased rates of liver disease.

“Alcohol is more affordable now and more accessible. Some shops stay open 24 hours and late licensing means people can stay in pubs until way past 11pm,” he said.

“We can only do so much. In Norfolk we need more money put into outpatient clinics, inpatient services, helplines and counselling services. But we also need more funding into education to stop youngsters getting into this situation in the first place.”

As reported in the Evening News, alcohol-related deaths in the region have soared by more than 12pc in five years.

The number of deaths between 2000 and 2004 in the east of England has shot up from 438 to 491 and this is being attributed to a surge in conditions such as alcoholic liver disease and alcohol poisoning, which has showed an increase of 18.4pc.

In 1992, the peak age of people dying of liver disease was 69. In 2000 it was 49. Alcohol-related illnesses are estimated to cost the NHS £2bn every year.

My battle with the booze:

Tom Edwards, 61, is celebrating 10 years of sobriety after a very public battle with the booze.

The former BBC Radio Norfolk presenter was even told by a doctor he had weeks to live.

He said: “I was lucky enough to get the help I needed at the time and get better but it breaks my heart to think how services are now not available.

“Clinics appear to be closing down constantly. Where do these people go who are as desperate as I was once? It is okay to get some one in hospital or put them on a detox but it is what happens afterwards that counts.

“Young people are drinking more than ever before with a particular problem with binge drinking. There definitely needs to be more help out there.”

Norwich Evening News