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Thousands of people warned about their drinking

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More than 13,000 people across the north and north-east were questioned by health workers about their drinking habits over a 12 month period.

Official figures released yesterday showed NHS Grampian carried out 7,301 alcohol brief interventions – where a person is asked a series of questions and given recommendations on their consumption – in 2013-14.

NHS Highland staff questioned 5,356 people including 86 pregnant women.

A total of 318 interviews we conducted by NHS in the Western Isles, 430 in Shetland and 297 in Orkney.

The figures showed that a total of 2,191 pregnant women across Scotland were spoken to about their drinking in 2013-14.

The health board with the most antenatal interventions was NHS Ayrshire and Arran, which carried out 1,766 and NHS Lothian carried out 254.

There were no antenatal figures available for Grampian or the island health boards.

Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said: “The sheer scale of the numbers involved here are very concerning, particularly when it’s no secret how damaging heavy alcohol consumption can be to an unborn baby.

“And while the NHS and the Scottish Government can always work harder to drive the message home to families about the dangers of this, it’s ultimately a matter of personal responsibility.”

Dr Evelyn Gillian, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said midwives had a “really important role to play” in encouraging pregnant women to avoid alcohol.

“Every parent wants the best for their baby so the safest advice for women is to avoid drinking altogether when pregnant or trying to conceive,” she added.

“No alcohol means no risk of harm to the developing baby.”

A NHS Highland spokeswoman said all pregnant women are asked about their alcohol consumption and smoking habits at the point of contact with the antenatal service.

“This is to ensure improvements in breast feeding rates and other important health behaviours,” she added.

A NHS Grampian spokeswoman said the board was “fully committed” to supporting the health and wellbeing of pregnant women.

“Our community midwives ask all pregnant women about their alcohol use, advise that the safest approach is not to drink any alcohol at all, and provide expectant mothers with support and information,” she added.