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| Britain on the booze: how a night of alcohol impacts the NHS - as it happened | Britain on the booze: how a night of alcohol impacts the NHS - as it happened |
| (30 days later) | |
| 3.29am GMT | 3.29am GMT |
| 03:29 | 03:29 |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | Mark Rice-Oxley |
| So that just about wraps up our Friday night live. Key conclusions: 1. drink is a problem 24/7 in hospitals, not just in the evenings, 2. for every teenager with a sprained wrist and hiccups there’s a serious recidivist who is on first-name terms with all the triage nurses, and 3. Britain may have its problem drinkers, but it has many great people trying to help them, from the staff in A&E departments to the street volunteers who try to protect people from themselves. | So that just about wraps up our Friday night live. Key conclusions: 1. drink is a problem 24/7 in hospitals, not just in the evenings, 2. for every teenager with a sprained wrist and hiccups there’s a serious recidivist who is on first-name terms with all the triage nurses, and 3. Britain may have its problem drinkers, but it has many great people trying to help them, from the staff in A&E departments to the street volunteers who try to protect people from themselves. |
| Right, I’m off for a stiff drink. Cheers. | Right, I’m off for a stiff drink. Cheers. |
| 2.40am GMT | 2.40am GMT |
| 02:40 | 02:40 |
| 2.31am GMT | 2.31am GMT |
| 02:31 | 02:31 |
| Lisa O'Carroll | Lisa O'Carroll |
| Just as we leave the assessment area a sixth patient, so drunk he is barely conscious, is brought in by ambulance. Ambulance staff brief reception – “he’s a student” – as another talks to the patient. “Hello, do you know where you are?” He starts to vomit and a struggle ensues to keep him in recovery position. “Open your eyes and let us turn you around so you don’t choke.” | Just as we leave the assessment area a sixth patient, so drunk he is barely conscious, is brought in by ambulance. Ambulance staff brief reception – “he’s a student” – as another talks to the patient. “Hello, do you know where you are?” He starts to vomit and a struggle ensues to keep him in recovery position. “Open your eyes and let us turn you around so you don’t choke.” |
| “They take more time from us than other patients and they can be less sick,” said Catherine Chipande.The 19-year-old who was admitted before him and is semi-conscious has wet himself and the staff have had to cut off his clothing. | “They take more time from us than other patients and they can be less sick,” said Catherine Chipande.The 19-year-old who was admitted before him and is semi-conscious has wet himself and the staff have had to cut off his clothing. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.58am GMT | at 3.58am GMT |
| 2.22am GMT | 2.22am GMT |
| 02:22 | 02:22 |
| 2.15am GMT | 2.15am GMT |
| 02:15 | 02:15 |
| Steven Morris | Steven Morris |
| It’s getting busy at the ATC, the alcohol treatment centre in Cardiff. Another student arrives – this one wheeled in with a street pastor – and accompanied by a bunch of friends. Water and rest is prescribed. She is sat in the waiting room. A middle-aged woman is brought in by police officers. She failed to make it to a toilet and needs cleaning up as well as sobering up. Hours to go on the shift at the ATC here but nothing from the staff but patience, kindness and good humour. | It’s getting busy at the ATC, the alcohol treatment centre in Cardiff. Another student arrives – this one wheeled in with a street pastor – and accompanied by a bunch of friends. Water and rest is prescribed. She is sat in the waiting room. A middle-aged woman is brought in by police officers. She failed to make it to a toilet and needs cleaning up as well as sobering up. Hours to go on the shift at the ATC here but nothing from the staff but patience, kindness and good humour. |
| 2.10am GMT | 2.10am GMT |
| 02:10 | 02:10 |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| Back in Stoke, there are 99 patients in A&E at 2am, which is an achievement for the staff, the first time numbers have dropped below 100 since 4.30pm yesterday. Patients are being discharged, or waiting to be admitted to other departments as beds there become available. Though some staff are beginning to end their shifts, many others are here until the morning. More than 100 people have come through the doors already since midnight; some who have overindulged tonight are on trollies in the corridor making emotional phone calls. There is more work to do before the night is over for A&E staff - five more ambulances are on their way... | Back in Stoke, there are 99 patients in A&E at 2am, which is an achievement for the staff, the first time numbers have dropped below 100 since 4.30pm yesterday. Patients are being discharged, or waiting to be admitted to other departments as beds there become available. Though some staff are beginning to end their shifts, many others are here until the morning. More than 100 people have come through the doors already since midnight; some who have overindulged tonight are on trollies in the corridor making emotional phone calls. There is more work to do before the night is over for A&E staff - five more ambulances are on their way... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.10am GMT | at 2.10am GMT |
| 2.05am GMT | 2.05am GMT |
| 02:05 | 02:05 |
| Kate Lyons | Kate Lyons |
| It is gearing up to be a big night in Leicester. Three thousand people, mostly students, are expected to head to the O2 nightclub to celebrate the end of university exams.Some may end their night at A&E, but one young woman is heading there before her night has even begun.A 21-year-old student who has, according to the friends who escort her to the ambulance, drunk a lot at the pre-drinks before the party, has slammed her finger in a door, detaching it partially.“Well you’ve had a lot to drink, so that will have dulled the pain,” says Constable Joe Couchman.Jane Squire, the paramedic working with Couchman in Leicester’s two-person “Polamb”, bandages the finger as the girl apologises profusely. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” over and over until Squire has to tell her firmly to stop. Then the woman vomits on the floor of the ambulance. “I’m so sorry,” the girl begins again.“You’re alright,” Squire says as she begins mopping the floor. “I’m alright with vomit, it’s poo I can’t cope with. I had man poo himself while I was treating him. I don’t like that.”Squire and Couchman take the woman to the hospital where patients line the corridors in chairs, on beds and stretchers waiting to be seen.The woman can barely walk, she is so drunk and so Squire puts her in a wheelchair. She is seen quite quickly because Squire gets the woman into the minor injury ward, though the prognosis is bad. It looks like the tip of the finger has died and unless they can get blood flow to the area, it will have to be amputated.“She’s going to be devastated,” says Couchman.“I’m just glad we weren’t there when they told her. I hope they wait until she’s sober,” says Squire. | It is gearing up to be a big night in Leicester. Three thousand people, mostly students, are expected to head to the O2 nightclub to celebrate the end of university exams.Some may end their night at A&E, but one young woman is heading there before her night has even begun.A 21-year-old student who has, according to the friends who escort her to the ambulance, drunk a lot at the pre-drinks before the party, has slammed her finger in a door, detaching it partially.“Well you’ve had a lot to drink, so that will have dulled the pain,” says Constable Joe Couchman.Jane Squire, the paramedic working with Couchman in Leicester’s two-person “Polamb”, bandages the finger as the girl apologises profusely. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” over and over until Squire has to tell her firmly to stop. Then the woman vomits on the floor of the ambulance. “I’m so sorry,” the girl begins again.“You’re alright,” Squire says as she begins mopping the floor. “I’m alright with vomit, it’s poo I can’t cope with. I had man poo himself while I was treating him. I don’t like that.”Squire and Couchman take the woman to the hospital where patients line the corridors in chairs, on beds and stretchers waiting to be seen.The woman can barely walk, she is so drunk and so Squire puts her in a wheelchair. She is seen quite quickly because Squire gets the woman into the minor injury ward, though the prognosis is bad. It looks like the tip of the finger has died and unless they can get blood flow to the area, it will have to be amputated.“She’s going to be devastated,” says Couchman.“I’m just glad we weren’t there when they told her. I hope they wait until she’s sober,” says Squire. |
| 2.01am GMT | 2.01am GMT |
| 02:01 | 02:01 |
| Lisa O'Carroll | Lisa O'Carroll |
| Two more alcohol admissions in Southampton in the space of 10 minutes, one so inebriated he is semi-conscious. | Two more alcohol admissions in Southampton in the space of 10 minutes, one so inebriated he is semi-conscious. |
| “The worry here is that the alcohol might mask a head injury,” says nurse Sam Carter. “So we do a set of neuro obs [observations] and lactate assessment to see if he is dehydrated. We might also resort to pain stimuli, squeeze his trapezium really hard to check his responses,” she adds. Ouch | “The worry here is that the alcohol might mask a head injury,” says nurse Sam Carter. “So we do a set of neuro obs [observations] and lactate assessment to see if he is dehydrated. We might also resort to pain stimuli, squeeze his trapezium really hard to check his responses,” she adds. Ouch |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.09am GMT | at 2.09am GMT |
| 2.00am GMT | 2.00am GMT |
| 02:00 | 02:00 |
| Josh Halliday | Josh Halliday |
| More breathtaking intoxication in Manchester... | More breathtaking intoxication in Manchester... |
| 1.55am GMT | 1.55am GMT |
| 01:55 | 01:55 |
| Steven Morris | Steven Morris |
| An 18-year-old student is found lying alone, and clearly drunk, on the pavement close to the university. There were a series of sexual assaults on women in this area last year so passers-by are worried and dial 999. | An 18-year-old student is found lying alone, and clearly drunk, on the pavement close to the university. There were a series of sexual assaults on women in this area last year so passers-by are worried and dial 999. |
| She has not been assaulted but has simply drunk too much at a house party. An ambulance crew arrives and takes her to the alcohol treatment centre – ATC. She is sick on the way and sick several times at the ATC. | She has not been assaulted but has simply drunk too much at a house party. An ambulance crew arrives and takes her to the alcohol treatment centre – ATC. She is sick on the way and sick several times at the ATC. |
| At the ATC she is assessed and given water. Ceri Martin, a sister, and Charlotte Pritchard, a healthcare support worker tend to her. She is joined by a friend at the ATC and they sit together, slumped in a corner, waiting for her to recover. | At the ATC she is assessed and given water. Ceri Martin, a sister, and Charlotte Pritchard, a healthcare support worker tend to her. She is joined by a friend at the ATC and they sit together, slumped in a corner, waiting for her to recover. |
| “She’ll be here for two or three hours while she gets herself together,” said Martin. “We’ll get her to drink water, observe her and keep her warm. Then we’ll make sure she gets home safely. | “She’ll be here for two or three hours while she gets herself together,” said Martin. “We’ll get her to drink water, observe her and keep her warm. Then we’ll make sure she gets home safely. |
| “I’m just glad that there’s a place like this for young women like that. She’s in a safe place and we’re helping keep pressure off A&E.” | “I’m just glad that there’s a place like this for young women like that. She’s in a safe place and we’re helping keep pressure off A&E.” |
| A street pastor radios in to say she is bringing someone in to the ATC. “So it begins,” says Pritchard. It still could be a long night/morning here. | A street pastor radios in to say she is bringing someone in to the ATC. “So it begins,” says Pritchard. It still could be a long night/morning here. |
| But it’s not always a thankless task, as this note at the ATC indicates: | But it’s not always a thankless task, as this note at the ATC indicates: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.10am GMT | at 2.10am GMT |
| 1.51am GMT | 1.51am GMT |
| 01:51 | 01:51 |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| Dr Ben Arnold, a SHO in emergency medicine, loves a Friday night in the minor injuries section. | Dr Ben Arnold, a SHO in emergency medicine, loves a Friday night in the minor injuries section. |
| “I like drunk people when they are not so unwell, you can joke with them. Their friends have brought them in because they’re worried about them, but from a medical point of view, they’re healthy, you can have a chat. There’s a common theme which colours the excuses made by revellers as they come round in A&E. | “I like drunk people when they are not so unwell, you can joke with them. Their friends have brought them in because they’re worried about them, but from a medical point of view, they’re healthy, you can have a chat. There’s a common theme which colours the excuses made by revellers as they come round in A&E. |
| “They say their drink has been spiked, their friends say ‘they always drink this much, it must be something in the drink.’ But it obviously is because they have had more than unusual or haven’t eaten enough. | “They say their drink has been spiked, their friends say ‘they always drink this much, it must be something in the drink.’ But it obviously is because they have had more than unusual or haven’t eaten enough. |
| “It’s younger ones, 18 year olds, who are more honest about it. They do get very embarrassed especially if they have had a loss of continence. And they have to go home in a hospital gown.” | “It’s younger ones, 18 year olds, who are more honest about it. They do get very embarrassed especially if they have had a loss of continence. And they have to go home in a hospital gown.” |
| Sometimes, it’s not just the patients causing Arnold all the bother. “It’s friends and relatives who might be a bit drunk. They get bored, they dress up in the gloves and gowns, mucking about and you have to go and remind them that a hospital is a serious place.” | Sometimes, it’s not just the patients causing Arnold all the bother. “It’s friends and relatives who might be a bit drunk. They get bored, they dress up in the gloves and gowns, mucking about and you have to go and remind them that a hospital is a serious place.” |
| 1.46am GMT | 1.46am GMT |
| 01:46 | 01:46 |
| Josh Halliday | Josh Halliday |
| Outside Deansgate Locks, a popular party spot with several bars and clubs, it’s not quite kicking out time but we’re already seeing a couple of early casualties. A drunk girl has fallen, cut her knee badly. She’s crying on the phone to her parents while being treated by the Street Angels. Another job saved from paramedics. | Outside Deansgate Locks, a popular party spot with several bars and clubs, it’s not quite kicking out time but we’re already seeing a couple of early casualties. A drunk girl has fallen, cut her knee badly. She’s crying on the phone to her parents while being treated by the Street Angels. Another job saved from paramedics. |
| 1.42am GMT | 1.42am GMT |
| 01:42 | 01:42 |
| Caroline Bannock | Caroline Bannock |
| Another offering from GuardianWitness: | Another offering from GuardianWitness: |
| Hannah, an ED sister working in Derbyshire has told us that though young people are drinking less, there are more incidents of legal highs: | Hannah, an ED sister working in Derbyshire has told us that though young people are drinking less, there are more incidents of legal highs: |
| https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/56a0c6d0e4b077e685c5faf8/1893549She adds: “Several times a week, sometimes more, we see young people (adolescents) who have taken legal highs. Some night we may see 3 or 4 within a few hours. I do think it’s a rapidly growing problem. Young people can easily get their hands on these substances and are unaware of the dangers of these drugs which we as a medical profession know very little about. Just because they are not illegal does not make them safe.” | https://witness.theguardian.com/assignment/56a0c6d0e4b077e685c5faf8/1893549She adds: “Several times a week, sometimes more, we see young people (adolescents) who have taken legal highs. Some night we may see 3 or 4 within a few hours. I do think it’s a rapidly growing problem. Young people can easily get their hands on these substances and are unaware of the dangers of these drugs which we as a medical profession know very little about. Just because they are not illegal does not make them safe.” |
| 1.26am GMT | 1.26am GMT |
| 01:26 | 01:26 |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| Students at Keele university have been celebrating the end of January exams and two of the youngsters are slumped in A&E brought in by local first aiders. One has been sick over two other waiting patients, another catatonic on a trolley. Two of eight the beds in resus - the most critical ward - are occupied by drunk revellers. | Students at Keele university have been celebrating the end of January exams and two of the youngsters are slumped in A&E brought in by local first aiders. One has been sick over two other waiting patients, another catatonic on a trolley. Two of eight the beds in resus - the most critical ward - are occupied by drunk revellers. |
| “I do feel sorry for the ones who come in on their own,” receptionist Debbie Hammond said. “One girl was brought in by first aiders and I shouted to them to cover her up, she had everything out and you have to give them some decency. I had to come down and cover her with a sheet.” | “I do feel sorry for the ones who come in on their own,” receptionist Debbie Hammond said. “One girl was brought in by first aiders and I shouted to them to cover her up, she had everything out and you have to give them some decency. I had to come down and cover her with a sheet.” |
| If things heat up too much, the receptionists have buzzer to press get help fast. “Fire, a fight, a collapse, if it’s something serious, everyone comes running,” she said. | If things heat up too much, the receptionists have buzzer to press get help fast. “Fire, a fight, a collapse, if it’s something serious, everyone comes running,” she said. |
| 1.26am GMT | 1.26am GMT |
| 01:26 | 01:26 |
| Lisa O'Carroll | Lisa O'Carroll |
| All calm in the assessment area in Southampton until now when a very aggressive drunk man is admitted with a cut to his face, swearing at anyone in sight. He is being held down by two policemen. We are advised not to go near him. “Fuck off,” he shouts to a female ambulance crew member accompanying him.The man is refusing to co-operate as he is placed in a bay next to an elderly lady, beaming with a grateful smile towards the two nurses attending to her. | All calm in the assessment area in Southampton until now when a very aggressive drunk man is admitted with a cut to his face, swearing at anyone in sight. He is being held down by two policemen. We are advised not to go near him. “Fuck off,” he shouts to a female ambulance crew member accompanying him.The man is refusing to co-operate as he is placed in a bay next to an elderly lady, beaming with a grateful smile towards the two nurses attending to her. |
| It takes a while for experienced staff to calm down the 29 year old. Then it’s all sweetness and light, with a friendly hello for staff as he is wheeled in to “majors” for further assessment. “Sometimes it’s like that but sometimes they don’t calm down at all and they get carried out in handcuffs. If it gets too bad and they have been assessed and they are not too bad they are just taken away by police,” said receptionist Sarah Jones. | It takes a while for experienced staff to calm down the 29 year old. Then it’s all sweetness and light, with a friendly hello for staff as he is wheeled in to “majors” for further assessment. “Sometimes it’s like that but sometimes they don’t calm down at all and they get carried out in handcuffs. If it gets too bad and they have been assessed and they are not too bad they are just taken away by police,” said receptionist Sarah Jones. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.33am GMT | at 1.33am GMT |
| 1.17am GMT | 1.17am GMT |
| 01:17 | 01:17 |
| Zoe Williams | Zoe Williams |
| Two Mikes, 23 and 32, a Carl, 18 and a Tom, 23, are sat in a pub in the small hours. None has ever ended up in A&E, though Tom’s “ended up in the drunk and disorderly, you know, the police.” He got tangled up in the theft of a plastic ornament and jostled a plain clothes police officer leaping from a Vauxhall Corsa, five years ago. “This is my time,” he says triumphantly, “to get my story out. If I’d known he were a copper, things would have gone very differently. I was at my auntie’s 40th!” Mike the younger said, “things happen when you’re drunk. I hit my cousin in the face on my 20th birthday.” | Two Mikes, 23 and 32, a Carl, 18 and a Tom, 23, are sat in a pub in the small hours. None has ever ended up in A&E, though Tom’s “ended up in the drunk and disorderly, you know, the police.” He got tangled up in the theft of a plastic ornament and jostled a plain clothes police officer leaping from a Vauxhall Corsa, five years ago. “This is my time,” he says triumphantly, “to get my story out. If I’d known he were a copper, things would have gone very differently. I was at my auntie’s 40th!” Mike the younger said, “things happen when you’re drunk. I hit my cousin in the face on my 20th birthday.” |
| “The bottom line,” said Mike the older, “is that if you’re trouble, trouble will find you.” “Yes,” said the younger Mike resoundingly. “My cousin went to Krazy House…” “Is that with a C or a K?” “How can you ask that?” (they all shake their heads). “And the next thing you know, he’s had his nose broken.” “Is this the same cousin you punched in the face?” “I gave him a black eye. Someone else broke his nose. There’s levels. I know this, I studied law at A level.” | “The bottom line,” said Mike the older, “is that if you’re trouble, trouble will find you.” “Yes,” said the younger Mike resoundingly. “My cousin went to Krazy House…” “Is that with a C or a K?” “How can you ask that?” (they all shake their heads). “And the next thing you know, he’s had his nose broken.” “Is this the same cousin you punched in the face?” “I gave him a black eye. Someone else broke his nose. There’s levels. I know this, I studied law at A level.” |
| The older Mike takes control. “This is a beautiful place. This isn’t a degenerate place. Independent bars, independent clubs, independent eateries. The transformation of Liverpool, the systemic regeneration of every part of this city, is almost beyond compare. I love this city and the people of this city.” | The older Mike takes control. “This is a beautiful place. This isn’t a degenerate place. Independent bars, independent clubs, independent eateries. The transformation of Liverpool, the systemic regeneration of every part of this city, is almost beyond compare. I love this city and the people of this city.” |