Boy, 10, treated for alcohol abuse (From This Is Cheshire)

Boy, 10, treated for alcohol abuse

3:10pm Thursday 17th March 2011 in News By Hannah Al-Taraboulsy

CHILDREN as young as 10 have visited A&E or been admitted to Warrington Hospital with alcohol related problems.

Between April 2009 and January 2010, 17 youngsters, including a 10-year-old boy, a 12-year-old girl and seven 14-year-olds, were seen by emergency staff at a cost of £1,048 to taxpayers.

There were 40 hospital admissions during that time which cost the NHS £25,800 and included a 12-year-old boy, eight 13-year-olds, seven 14-year-olds and 10 15-year-olds.

Between April 2010 and January 2011 there was a drop in child alcohol cases with 19 young people being treated at hospital after getting drunk, costing £11,682.

The youngest of these was a 12-year-old girl with three 14-year-old girls and a 14-year-old boy also needing medical attention.

In addition staff treated three 15-year-olds, four 16-year-olds and seven 17-year-olds for acute alcohol intoxication.

In A&E two 14-year-old girls were seen by doctors along with a 15-year-old girl, three 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old, costing £521.

Dr David Geggie, emergency care consultant, said: “It appears we have seen a drop in our under-18s admissions and attendances over the past two years, which is good news. I pay tribute to education programmes as they seem to be working.

“Traditionally during the summer months, in particular the school holidays, we do see a worrying increase, which indicates that more needs to be done during these periods to keep young people occupied and not turning to experimenting with alcohol for fun.”

l Phaze is an education programmes for youngsters in Warrington that offers information, advice and support to those affected by their own or someone else’s alcohol, drug or tobacco use. It is based at the The Gateway, Sankey Street, and can be contacted on 644202.