There were more hospital admissions for liver disease in Cumberland last year, new figures show.

The charity Alcohol Change said tens of thousands of people are affected by alcohol-related harm every year. It added preventative measures and support for those struggling with alcohol is urgently needed.

It comes as figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show hospital admissions for liver disease across England remain at a record high, with about 85,665 recorded in the year to March 2023 – up 51 per cent from 10 years prior.

In Cumberland, there were some 575 hospital admissions for liver disease in 2022-23, up from 480 the year before.

It was also an increase from 380 hospital admissions in 2012-13.

All figures are rounded to the nearest five.

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Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the main drivers of liver disease, but it can also be caused by other factors, including obesity, diabetes and hepatitis.

In Cumberland, 189 deaths were linked to liver disease across 2020-22. It meant the area had a mortality rate of 23.6 per 100,000.