Paramedics treat 66 drunks a day

PARAMEDICS are called to incidents involving drunken Scots an average of 66 times every day, new figures show.

Medics treated 1 ,000 people who were so intoxicated it was noted on ambulance records in the six months to the end of September.

The statistics, a stark reminder of Scotland’s ongoing problem with drink, do not include cases in which alcohol abuse was the primary reason for the call-out. Rather, they cover injuries where booze was a factor, such as a drunken fall.

Scottish ambulance control centres received ,149 calls between 7pm on Hogmanay and 7am yesterday as New Year celebrations peaked.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said the statistics highlighted how ‘deep-rooted and complex’ a problem alcohol is in Scottish society.

Pauline Howie, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said her staff had shown their ‘professionalism and commitment’ during the challenging New Year period.

She added. ‘They did a fantastic job managing high demand across the country.’