Boozing bay death figures shocker

The number of alcohol-related deaths in Torbay is among the highest in the UK and the problem is getting worse, health experts say.

In 2005, 30 people in the Bay died through boozing, and the majority of them were under 54.The latest figures put the Bay as the seventh highest authority in the UK for alcohol-related deaths in men, and in the top 30 for women.

Torbay is also in the top five places in the country with the highest rates of men killed by chronic liver disease.

In 2005 - the latest figures available -the rate of men who died from a diseased liver was 29.87 per 100,000 of the population, compared to the regional average of 11.75, according to a report by the South West Public Health Observatory.

A spokeswoman at the SWPHO said the figures were calculated as a proportion, rather than being based on the actual number of people who have died.

Fiona Tolley, the director of public health at Torbay Care Trust, believes there are 3,600 alcoholics in the Bay and a further 21,100 people who are drinking dangerous levels of booze.

Latest estimates put the population of Torbay at 123,000.

Last year, the rate of men of all ages in the resort dying through drink-related illnesses was 24.2 per 100,000 of the population - double the national average of 12.03, said the SWPHO.

At 9.24 per 100,000 of the population, the female mortality rate in Torbay is also higher than the national average of 5.45.

Torbay Hospital admits some of the largest number of patients suffering from illness caused by drinking in the country. In 2005 this was 468 people. Nearly 330 of them were men.

This can be compared to Plymouth, which has double the population of Torbay, where just 506 men were admitted to hospital with similar complaints.

The resort's teenagers also rank among the heaviest drinkers in the UK, with the Bay coming in at 49th out of 354 authorities for the number of under 18s admitted to hospital with alcohol specific conditions.

In her annual report Ms Tolley described the number of people going to Torbay Hospital because of alcohol as a 'rising trend'.

In a report due to be discussed by the Torbay Strategic Partnership tomorrow she wrote: "Looking at previous years, results for Torbay were consistently higher than would be expected for both elective and emergency admissions given our demographic profile.

"The standardised admission rates for alcohol-related liver disease are currently more than twice the expected level for Torbay's population."

Reducing the Bay's high number of suicide deaths and alcohol abusers is a top priority for the resort's public health authorities.

Mike Wade, the manager of Torbay drug and alcohol action team, said many people do not realise they are drinking at dangerous levels.

He said: "Alcohol misuse has always received less attention than illegal drug misuse, but the effects on individuals, their families and those around them can be devastating.

"Part of the problem is many people do not realise they are drinking at dangerous levels, or that they have developed a reliance upon alcohol.

"We know if we can get to people quickly, assess their alcohol use and provide structured, appropriate support, we can reduce the numbers of people who would potentially become dependent drinkers."

In response to growing concern about the health of alcohol abusers, the trust has increased its one-to-one and group support for harmful drinkers.

Health and social care workers have been armed with a screening tool to detect dangerous drinking levels and an interactive website, providing on-line advice and support, is due to go live in December.

Members of the Torbay Strategic Partnership will consider several of Ms Tolley's recommendations to tackle alcohol abuse, including ensuring the Bay promotes a safe and sensible drinking culture.

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