THE number of boozy pensioners being admitted to hospital has nearly doubled in the last five years.
In 2002/03, 1,035 pensioners were admitted to Ealing hospital with alcohol related illnesses and accidents and by 2006/07, this figure had risen to 1,869.
Ealing has the second highest number of binge-drinking pensioners in London and according to Denyse Whillier, Director of Age Concern, isolation is a contributing factor.
She said: "Alcohol is clearly filling a gap in their lives when they should be turning to family or supportive schemes to help them through difficult times."
The figures were obtained in a Parliamentary question by Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for London, and the political party is now calling for preventative measures to tackle isolation and depression in senior citizens before they turn to the bottle.
