AN NHS chief has broken her silence on Ayrshire and Arran’s child booze shame.

Liz Moore, the director of Acute Services at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, has spoken out after it was revealed that 86 children under the age of 10 were treated for alcohol related illnesses in the last three years - the highest in Scotland.

The figures, obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, also showed that more than a quarter of Scotland’s 10 to 18-year-old’s who fell ill after drinking - totalling 1483 - were treated by NHS Ayrshire and Arran staff during the same period.

Astonishingly, NHS Ayrshire and Arran staff treated EIGHT times more under-10 boozers than their Greater Glasgow and Clyde colleagues (10), with 1020 more 10 to 18-year-old patients than Scotland’s largest health board.

Ms Moore said: “We are committed to tackling alcohol use and have made it one of our top four priorities for improving health.

“We are especially vigilant where children are concerned and our robust recording systems highlight where alcohol is the primary or secondary factor in an incident or illness.

“NHS Ayrshire & Arran provides an alcohol liaison service throughout our hospitals, in our Accident and Emergency departments and general wards.

“When someone is identified as potentially having an alcohol-related admission, we offer support and treatment advice. If required, patients are referred on to NHS Addiction Services before they are discharged.” Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Jim Hume MSP, added: “These children should be out kicking a ball about, not hitting the bottle.

“It should set alarm bells ringing across society that so many young people who should not be drinking are being treated by our NHS staff for alcohol-related conditions. Problem drinking can rip apart families and places enormous financial strain on our public services, from our hospitals to our criminal justice system.

“If we are to change our national drinking culture young people must be given the education they need to make informed decisions about the impact alcohol misuse can have on their lives.”