East Sussex hospitals ‘buckling under pressure’ from drug-related admissions

Hospitals in East Sussex have seen a ‘staggering rise’ in the number of drug-related admissions, according to new NHS figures.
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The NHS has revealed hospitals in East Sussex have seen rising number of admissions for drug-related mental and behavioural disorders in the last 10 years.

The UK Addiction Treatment Group (UKAT) looked at NHS figures from 2009 until now. For East Sussex hospitals there is a 101 per cent annual rise in admissions, with a ‘staggering 282 per cent rise in the last 10 years’.

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During the last financial year, including the first three months of 2020 when the Covid-19 crisis began, the analysis said hospitals in East Sussex were ‘buckling under the pressure’ from rising admission rates.

Nuno Albuquerque, photo from UKAT SUS-210302-101339001Nuno Albuquerque, photo from UKAT SUS-210302-101339001
Nuno Albuquerque, photo from UKAT SUS-210302-101339001

Last year 695 people in East Sussex suffered from drug-related mental and behavioural disorders which is more than double what the number was the previous year.

Compared to the rest of the south east, East Sussex came third behind Buckinghamshire and Hampshire in terms of the 10 year rise in admissions for drug-related mental and behavioural disorders:

1st - Buckinghamshire = 497 per cent

2nd - Hampshire = 306 per cent

Recovery Lighthouse, photo from UKAT SUS-210302-101304001Recovery Lighthouse, photo from UKAT SUS-210302-101304001
Recovery Lighthouse, photo from UKAT SUS-210302-101304001

3rd - East Sussex = 282 per cent

4th - Kent = 258 per cent

5th - Surrey = 242 per cent

6th - Portsmouth = 140 per cent

7th - Brighton and Hove = 43 per cent

UKAT said these figures are ‘only set to worsen’ due to the difficulties that people faced for the rest of 2020.

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Nuno Albuquerque, the group treatment lead at UKAT, said, “Unfortunately we expect these figures to rise again in the next annual report as the impact of the rest of 2020 and the multiple Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions are included in the figures.

“What we’re already seeing is that more and more people across the south east are struggling with drugs which is resulting in increasing pressure on our already stretched NHS as admissions for mental, behavioural, injuries and poisoning by drugs continue to flood in.

“But imagine how much worse a person’s relationship with drugs may have become during the difficult year of 2020.”

The closest UKAT treatment centre to East Sussex is the Recovery Lighthouse in West Sussex which is operating at ‘almost maximum capacity’ and it admitting clients every day for drug-related disorders, according to UKAT.

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Mr Albuquerque said, “All we can ask is that councils across the south east, especially those where the data clearly shows a rise in hospital admissions, choose to invest in effective drug and alcohol treatment strategies this financial year in order to really support those in their communities who are clearly struggling.”

UKAT offers 24/7 confidential support with drug-related mental and behavioural disorders. Visit www.ukat.co.uk/drugs/v77/ for more information.