Don't become an A&E statistic by excessive boozing, New Year revellers warned

Dr Paul Southern, a consultant hepatologist at Bradford Royal Infirmary, said the city’s emergency department staff are hard pressed enough without having to deal with people’s hangover symptoms and sprains from falls.

The T&A reported this week that the A&E unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary has treated a record number of patients in December with the total edging towards the 11,000 mark.

Dr Southern said: “We’re not being Grinches but we want people and their friends and family to stay safe and go into the New Year feeling well.”

Up to 70 per cent of A&E arrivals after midnight any night of the year are because of problems linked to alcohol but with the festive period upon the city, that figure could easily rise unless people take heed and stay happy but cautious when out celebrating.

Dr Southern said: "It's really common for people to turn up at A&E feeling sick with severe headaches from hangovers or with sprains from falls that happened the night before when they over did the drink.

"Our A&E department is already pressed without having to deal with symptoms and injuries that could be dealt with at home instead. Everyone wants to have a fun time and we don't want to spoil that but people have to be sensible and cautious."

Dr Southern also warned of the dangers of pre-loading - drinking at home before going out - and the risks of binge-drinking especially when people are not regular consumers of alcohol.

He said: "The particular craze of pre-loading on cheap vodka or wine could suddenly hit people if they are not used to it, same goes because of the economic climate that people may be haven't been drinking much then just go mad for Christmas - the effects will be even worse on them."

People out in pubs and clubs also need to be on their guard against having their drinks spiked - another situation that regularly lands people in A&E.

"Bottles are better, just don't leave your drinks lying about - keep them in sight, " said Dr Southern.

People coming into A&E because drinks have been spiked is something we see every day and every weekend. Sometimes it's friends thinking they are having a laugh or it's someone with more sinister motives - it is a dangerous situation to steer clear of."

In 2012, the cost of alcohol-related treatment across Bradford was estimated at £35 million, including £6.7m in A&E attendances and £7m in outpatients appointments, equating to £88 per adult.

KEEP a check on how many drinks you have during tonight's celebrations. 

THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK

The Department of Health recommends men should not drink more than three to four units of alcohol each day. 

For women, the daily limit is no more than two to three units. 

Drinking more than eight units for men and six units for women in any one day is known as binge drinking.

A single 175ml glass of wine can contain two to three units of alcohol and a pint-and-a-half of four per cent beer has three to four units. 

Wendy Lambert, alcohol clinical nurse specialist at Bradford District Care Trust, said: “Drinking within recommended limits puts you at lower risk of alcohol related health problems. 

"If you drink more than recommended limits it can seriously affect your well-being.

"Alcohol can also make you feel overconfident resulting in you taking risks that you would not normally consider. 

“We’re asking people to think carefully about what they drink, how much they drink and how often they drink over the holidays."

To calculate your unit intake, go to NHS choices and use their online drinks tracker or download the NHS Drinks Tracker Application for smartphones.

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