Drunken revellers spark New Year's mayhem as paramedics highlight dangers of binge-drinking

Fiona Simpson1 January 2017

Paramedics faced their busiest night of the year as drunken New Year’s revellers wreaked havoc across the capital.

The London Ambulance Service warned millions of revellers celebrating across the city of the dangers of binge-drinking on the biggest night of the year for party-goers.

The warning came as an NHS chief issued a stark reminder that the country’s health provider should not be used as a “national hangover service”.

A technical fault sparked chaos for call-handlers who were forced to log emergencies using pen and paper.

The emergency service shared tales of collapsed revellers falling down stairs and patients who drank so much they lost the ability to walk as Londoners welcomed the New Year.

LAS used its Twitter feed to highlight the dangers of drinking too much alcohol.

At 11.30pm the service shared an image of paramedics treated an unconscious man along with the caption: “This man didn't make it to midnight. He's unconscious after drinking too much.”

Another tweet, posted at 3am, read: “We're responding to a patient who has had too much to drink and fallen down some stairs. Please get home safely.”

Paramedics, along with volunteers from St John’s Ambulance Service, treated 162 patients.

A spokesman said many patients suffered alcohol-related injuries and others were helped to sober up.

Deputy Director of Operations at LAS Kevin Bate said: “Every year we work closely with St John Ambulance at temporary treatment centres to ensure people out celebrating receive the most appropriate medical care as quickly as possible. By caring for people in treatment centres we can avoid taking them to busy A&E departments.

“We expect to continue to be busy throughout New Year’s Day.

“Many Londoners will wake up feeling unwell after a heavy night.

“We would encourage them to consider using other healthcare services such as walk-in centres or calling NHS 111 for health advice to ensure our medics are free and able to respond to the patients in serious and life-threatening conditions."

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