Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Consultation on alcohol-related hospital admissions data - the end of 'alcohol-related' figures?


Consultation on the methods used to estimate alcohol-related hospital admissions for England has been opened by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO).

Download the consultation document here [pdf] and response form.

It was announced that the hospital admissions data would be reviewed when the Public Health Outcomes Framework was released earlier this year, stating 'the preferred option is for an indicator based on just alcohol-related primary diagnoses, to minimise the risk of perverse consequences from any changes in coding practice so the indicator rewards local areas for good performance.'

Hosptial admissions data was formerly used to monitor 'National Indicator (NI) 39' performance under 'Local Area Agreements' (LAA). However LAAs were scrapped under the Government's Localism agenda, although areas can still monitor hospital admissions data through the Local Alcohol Profiles for England (LAPE) site and are reviewed in the annual national alcohol statistics. > > > > Read More