Thousands of people admitted to Milton Keynes hospital each year due to drinking too much alcohol

Over the past year, 5,110 city patients were admitted with a diagnosis linked to how much alcohol they drank.

This compared to 4,160 in 2013, according to figures published this week by addiction company UKAT, which is the UK's largest provider of rehab facilities.

Conditions for hospital admission due to alcohol include cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, alcohol poisoning, and alcoholic liver disease. And, across the region, the number of men suffering from these far outweighs the number of women, says UKAT.

The company head of treatment Nuno Albuquerque said: The problem with alcohol in this country is a ticking time bomb about to explode. NHS Hospitals in particular across the East of England are crippling under pressures directly attributable to the misuse of alcohol; a drug that is so socially accepted yet so incredibly dangerous. "

He added: “People here are seemingly struggling with their alcohol consumption; drinking so much alcohol that it is leading to hospitalisation and the diagnosis of further, debilitating conditions, yet the Government continues to have their heads buried in the sand.

“The question is, why do we still not have an Alcohol-specific strategy, as promised back in 2018? It is a huge problem and one that needs immediately addressed as a matter of urgency.”

For help, advice and local alcohol support services, visit www.ukat.co.uk/alcohol/v7/