Increase in alcohol-related calls concerns ambulance service (From Your Local Guardian)

Increase in alcohol-related calls in Croydon concerns ambulance service

8:00am Sunday 5th February 2012 in Health

Increase in alcohol-related calls in Croydon concerns ambulance service

Alcohol-related 999 incidents in Croydon shot up by 30 per cent in December – one of the biggest increases in London.

London Ambulance Service staff treated 205 patients in the borough who had alcohol-related injuries or illnesses compared to 158 in December 2010.

Ambulance Operations Manager for the area Paul Cook said: “Such a sharp rise in alcohol-related incidents in the borough is a real concern.

“The vast majority of patients who’ve overdone it with alcohol only have minor injuries or illnesses and don’t necessarily need an ambulance or to go to hospital.

“On New Year’s Eve, which is always the busiest night for our staff and when most incidents are alcohol-related, we sent a police officer with a paramedic to 999 calls in the town centre.

“Once there, our staff assessed the patient and decided what level of care – if any – was needed. This helped us to save ambulances for patients with life-threatening emergencies, for example people suffering a cardiac arrest or those with serious injuries.

“We’re not killjoys – you should go out and have a good time but think about the consequences of excessive drinking on your health, the ambulance service and the wider NHS.”