Inverclyde records over 7,000 hospital admissions caused by alcohol

The newly released figures from Public Health Scotland have revealed that between 2014/15 and 2024/25, there were 7,614 alcohol-related admissions at Inverclyde Royal. A further 3,492 were 'partially attributable' in that period.

While the number of admissions has seen a decrease in the last decade, down from 852 in 2014/15 to 507 in 2024/25, Inverclyde remained above the national average rate per 100,000 hospital admissions in each of the ten years.

(Image: George Munro)

Rachel Weir, senior national family support practitioner for Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, said the scale of alcohol harm locally often goes unnoticed.

She said: "Alcohol is so woven into our culture that the harm it causes can sometimes be hidden in plain sight.

"We hear from family members across Inverclyde and nationally, who are constantly worried about a loved one's safety and wellbeing, while trying to manage the impact on their own lives, relationships, health and mental wellbeing.

Rachel Weir (right) from Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Lesley McLeister of the Salvation Army launched a film challenging the stigma of addiction in 2025. (Image: George Munro)

"Families are often affected long before a person seeks support themselves, and they continue to be affected whether their loved one is actively drinking, in recovery, or has sadly died as a result of alcohol-related harm."

Scottish Families supports people aged 16 and over affected by somebody else’s alcohol or drug use. This includes partners, parents, children, siblings, grandparents and friends.

Rachel said people often focus on the person drinking, while missing the effect on those around them.

She added: "Families are often the hidden responders to alcohol harm.

"They can find themselves acting as carers, advocates and sources of emotional support, often with little support for themselves.

"While families want to help, they cannot do it alone. The impact can be overwhelming, leaving people exhausted, isolated and struggling with their own wellbeing.”

Support is available for people concerned about their own alcohol or drug use through Inverclyde Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service, Moving On Inverclyde and Your Voice Recovery Hub.

A spokesperson for Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) said there are 'many ways to access support across Inverclyde'.

They said: “If you or a loved one is looking for support with their alcohol intake, there is help available.

"Go to https://inverclydeadp.org.uk/ for more information.

"We have a joined-up, ‘no wrong door’ approach meaning people can access support through many different means: self-referral, their GP, hospital services or our partner organisations.

“September is Recovery Month and we have a range of events organised to raise the profile of recovery and the support which is out there."

This support can include one-to-one and group therapy, community nursing, day services, social work help with housing and benefits, hospital-based care, detoxification, recovery support, residential rehabilitation and family services.