PATIENTS attending A&E because of social problems - such as homelessness and alcoholism - cost Cheshire’s hospital trusts tens of thousands of pounds during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, figures show.

Charity Crisis said homelessness causes severe inequalities in care, with health issues often going untreated until a critical point.

And figures from NHS Digital shows the cost to the health service of treating patients with social issues across England has almost doubled over just two years.

Data shows roughly 160 emergency care admissions to East Cheshire NHS Trust had a diagnosis of ‘social problems’ (including chronic alcoholism and homelessness) in 2020-21.

It cost the trust - which runs Congleton War Memorial Hospital, Knutsford and District Community Hospital and Macclesfield District General Hospital - £71,650 to treat patients with this diagnosis over the period.

The number of admissions rose from roughly 155 the year before, and the cost increased from £47,411.

Meanwhile, data shows roughly 85 emergency care admissions to Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had a diagnosis of ‘social problems’ in 2020-21.

It cost the trust - which runs Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford - £19,330 to treat patients with this diagnosis over the period.

The number of admissions fell from 100 the year before, but the cost increased slightly from £19,237.

The figures also cover a range of other categories - including nutritional disorder, safeguarding abuse, social problems in schools and poor social circumstances - with the diagnosis made by the clinician responsible for the patient attending A&E.

Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said something as simple as lack of ID can make going to a GP impossible for people experiencing homelessness - meaning health issues often are not addressed until a critical point.

He added: "The fact that people are accessing treatment is positive, but the focus must be on getting tailored health care support early on."

He said recent NICE guidelines - which call for specialist services to meet the complex needs of people who are homeless - must be implemented.