Alcohol-related deaths in England are at record highs, with the NHS under increasing strain from preventable alcohol-related conditions. Our new short film, The Impact of Alcohol on our Healthcare Services: Explained, explores why urgent action is needed to improve the way our health services respond.
Featuring Professor Julia Sinclair, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, and Dr Dominique Florin, the film highlights the devastating impact of fragmented services, chronic underfunding, and the lack of a coordinated approach to alcohol treatment.
As Professor Julia Sinclair explains:
Alcohol is a poison – it reaches every organ in the body. Yet, despite the scale of harm, our health system still isn’t equipped to respond effectively.”
In 2021, nearly 6% of all hospital admissions were alcohol-related, yet many people struggling with alcohol dependence receive no treatment. Alcohol Care Teams and Assertive Outreach programs have proven effective, but funding cuts and a lack of integration with community services have left too many falling through the cracks.
Sir Ian describes the challenge:
Patients with advanced alcohol use disorder are out there. They’re coming into A&Es. We need to treat them, but current facilities are woefully inadequate.”
The film makes the case for a national alcohol strategy – one that ensures sustained funding, universal screening, and better-integrated treatment pathways. Without urgent reform, the crisis will only deepen.