Alcohol and violence in Wales
Published: 28 November 2008
RCN Wales has responded to the recent claim by the Chief Constable of South Wales Police that Wales is a violent place. The Chief Constable made the claim at the launch of a new campaign by the country's senior churchmen and police officers address alcohol related problems in Wales.
It is estimated that 20% of adults binge drink and in doing so suffer the consequences of ill health, many of which require treatment in NHS establishments. It is reported that 2 in 3 attendances at A&E after midnight is as a direct result of alcohol intoxication and that 15% of all hospital admissions are as a result of alcohol.
RCN Wales has included policy actions to tackle alcohol abuse in its Get it Right campaign and Tina Donnelly, Director of RCN Wales commented,
"The Welsh Assembly Government should seek the powers to reduce licensing hours, control the accessibility of alcohol and improve health services.
“Nurse led alcohol services in Cardiff and across the UK have all been proved successful helping patients and saving money. In Belfast nurse-led services saved £20,000 a month and RCN Wales wants to see a full-time alcohol liaison nurse available in every A&E department.
“Steps must also be taken to improve education and the Welsh Assembly Government should ensure there is a statutory requirement to cover issues of alcohol misuse within the national curriculum and the Government should have a fully funded strategy in place to reduce alcohol consumption."
For more information on this and other health and nursing policy initiatives put forward by RCN Wales please visit the Get it Right campaign section of the website.