Celebrate New Year safely, warn ambulance bosses

That's the message from Yorkshire Ambulance Service in the run up to the new year celebrations.

Alcohol is one of the leading causes of accidents in the UK and this problem can become worse during the festive season.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is asking people to think about the consequences of their actions and to drink sensibly to keep themselves, and others, free from harm at what is traditionally their busiest time of year. 

A&E operations director Keith Prior said: “The high volume of calls we receive around Christmas and on New Year's Eve puts the service under increased pressure and makes it harder for us to ensure we can get to other patients quickly.

“Our emergency resources can be a lifeline in a genuine life-threatening emergency such as a heart attack but are too often caught up dealing with people with excessive drunkenness and alcohol-fuelled injuries which could have been avoided.

“We're not saying people shouldn't enjoy an alcoholic drink while celebrating, but ask that they do so sensibly to avoid the need for an ambulance and leaving them available for those with a genuine need.” 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is also reminding people who require treatment or advice for a minor condition to consider the variety of other healthcare services available them and only to call 999 when someone is in need of time-critical help.