Hospital Episode Statistics [HES] for 2011/12 published today show a rise in the number of admissions wholly attributable to alcohol to a record high of 304,200. This represents a 6% rise on 2010/11 and is nearly 30% up on 2008/09, when the measure was first introduced [237,800].
The year-on-year increase in admissions to hospitals directly caused by alcohol is part of a wider upward trend in NHS hospital activity, with the total number of admissions in England passing 15 million in 2011/12.
A summary report of the HES data can be accessed at HESonline.