The piece opens with London Ambulance Service
staff helping a patient on the streets who’s had too much to drink.
They’re putting him onto a Patient Transport Service vehicle.
Reporter: “Christmas may be weeks away, but
its darker side is already hitting our streets. Many drink to
excess putting extra strain on the emergency services. This
temporary booze hospital has opened in central London to cope with
demand.”
Duty Station Officer Nick Lesslar is talking
outside the treatment centre at Liverpool Street station: “I think
mainly people just get carried away with it. People go out and they
don’t plan it properly. Most people know that you shouldn’t drink
on an empty stomach but you’d be amazed at the amount of people who
come here and are covered in vomit – and they haven’t eaten a thing
all day.”
We see a patient being looked after by staff
in the treatment centre.
Reporter: “This man was picked up in the first
hour. He has his blood and sugar levels tested before a decision is
made about sending him home or on to hospital.
We see the reporter walking into the treatment
centre: “Paramedics expect hundreds of people to come through these
doors in the coming weeks. They’ve opened the marquee a week
earlier than usual to take the pressure off A&E departments and
because of the growing number of people binge drinking.”
A patient is taken from the treatment centre
to a waiting St John Ambulance Service vehicle.
“More than a hundred staff will treat drinkers
on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until Christmas.
“In 2007, 52 patients were given treatment in
the booze hospital, that number jumped dramatically to 141 cases
last year – 75 per cent were discharged without visiting an A&E
department. It’s taking the strain off frontline services which are
under pressure across the country.”
Andy Wrigley from the St John Ambulance
Service is talking inside the treatment centre: “Don’t just drink
alcohol willy-nilly, try to measure yourself and where possible
have some soft drinks. Make sure you’ve a way to get home. Maybe
have a buddy to help you – one of you agreeing to stay sober.”
Reporter: “The festive season can be a major
headache for party goers as well as paramedics. If you don’t want
to end up here, let your hair down, but not yourself. Amy Lewis,
Sky News.”