8. What assessment has the First Minister made of alcohol-related deaths during the pandemic? OQ56588

Can I thank Dr Hussain for that question, Llywydd? Despite fluctuating, alcohol-specific deaths have remained relatively stable over recent years. Provisional figures suggest a rise in numbers in 2020, but more data is needed to confirm and to assess this. The reasons for any rise may be complex and will need additional analysis. 

The First Minister will be aware that figures on alcohol-specific deaths only include those where each death is as a direct consequence of alcohol misuse—that is, wholly attributable causes, for example alcoholic liver disease. Screening and referral systems in general hospitals and seamless access to detoxification and residential rehabilitation services are the proven means of reducing such deaths, by identifying those at risk of serious illness and providing services for their recovery from alcohol dependency. Does the First Minister agree with me that all health boards should report on the screening and referral systems in general medical departments to identify patients with an alcohol dependency, and will the Welsh Government commit to provide funding to ensure that all patients who need it have access to detoxification and residential rehabilitation? Thank you. 

I thank the Member for that supplementary question. He is, of course, entirely correct that the figures that are published are 'direct cause of alcohol' deaths, and the problem of alcohol misuse is a far wider one than that. On the final specific point that the Member raised, the Welsh Government rehabilitation framework has 30 different providers of residential drug and alcohol services on it. Between April 2020 and May of this year, there were 194 referrals to those centres, of which 93 were to Brynawel, a residential centre I know the Member has a particular interest in. I was very pleased myself, when health Minister, to visit Brynawel and to see the services that it provides. During 2020-21, the Welsh Government made available an extra £750,000 to support residential provision of alcohol and drug recovery services, of which £250,000 went directly to Brynawel, to support additional placements there. I know that he speaks with authority on this matter, from the work that he does, and I hope that he will recognise the additional investment the Welsh Government has made, and the difference that that is making in the lives of people with alcohol dependency and their ability to access excellent services of the sort that Brynawel provides.

Thank you, First Minister.