THE number of people admitted to Barnsley Hospital for liver disease has almost doubled in the last year, new figures have revealed.

Office for Health Improvement and Disparities figures show there were 435 hospital admissions for liver disease in 2022/23, up from 330 the year before.

It was also an increase from 265 hospital admissions in 2012/13.

All figures are rounded to the nearest five.

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.

Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, said: “Hospital admissions related to liver disease remain at an all-time high.

“We’re also seeing continuing problems right across our health system, from GPs to A and E, from liver wards to cancer wards to alcohol treatment services.

“The health harms caused by alcohol are affecting tens of thousands of people every year.

“The heartbreaking thing is that all of this suffering is totally avoidable.”

Of the hospital admissions across England last year, 27,085 had a primary diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease.

This included 140 in Barnsley.

The OHID data also shows the mortality rate for liver disease has worsened.

Nationally, there were 31,221 deaths due to liver disease among under 75 year olds between 2020 and 2022.

It equated to a mortality rate of 21.1 per 100,000 people.

It is the highest rate since records began in 2001.

In Barnsley, 189 deaths were linked to liver disease across 2020 to 2022.

It meant the area had a mortality rate of 28 per 100,000 - much higher than the national average.