10 HEALTH STATS BOOZE BURDEN
Ambulances in Lanarkshire race to drink-related calls every day
Ambulances in Lanarkshire are responding to an average of seven drinkrelated calls a day.
The ambulance service logged 2788 calls in the county in 2017/18 where alcohol was listed as a factor, according to figures revealed following a Freedom of Information request.
It breaks down to 1459 in North Lanarkshire and 1329 in South Lanarkshire. It is the equivalent of 7.6 calls per day.
The number of drinkrelated calls was up from 1982 Lanarkshire-wide in 2016/17.
However, this is the first increase in five years where previously the number of calls was falling, down from 4077 in total in 2013/14.
Based on the number of calls per 1000 people, North Lanarkshire saw 4.3 calls per 1000 people in 2017/18, and South Lanarkshire 4.2, compared to the Scottish average of 3.5 calls per 1000 people.
Across Scotland, the ambulance service logged 19,147 calls in 2017/18 where alcohol was listed as a factor.
That’s the equivalent of 52 calls per day.
The number of drink-related calls was up from 12,328 in 2016/17 but down from 27,102 in 2013/14.
Kevin Brandstatter, GMB National Officer, said: “Our dedicated ambulance members deal with tens of thousands of call outs every day.
“Unquestionably some of these are alcohol-related, especially at evenings, weekends and during the festive period.
“Alcohol-related incidents can lead to disorder related injuries, with drink-fuelled violence, but also injuries caused by being heavily intoxicated.
“Many people like to unwind with a drink – and the fault of excessive drinking doesn’t just lie at an individual’s door.
“Issues like cheap alcohol, and bars continuing to serve people when they are drunk, contribute to these incidents and the hospitality industry must take some of the blame for continuing to ply drunk people with cheap booze in order to make profit.
“Whether injuries are selfinflicted or inflicted by someone else, GMB ambulance staff will still be there to help - even though drunkenness can sometimes lead to assaults on ambulance staff simply trying to help.”
He continued: “Christmas is on the horizon and incidents of drunken behaviour rise during the festive period.
“GMB calls for some restraint by individuals to temper their drinking habits, and for pubs and bars to recognise when someone has had enough.
“Without seeking to dampen peoples enthusiasm, GMB would just like to remind everyone — our members are trying to help people, to save lives.
“Please remember that — even after a few drinks — and remember the new penalties for assaulting ambulance staff can lead to imprisonment, dismissal from work and all the problems that then arise. Have fun, but be careful.”