NHS England invests £300,000 in ‘drunk tanks’ this Christmas

NHS England has announced an extra £300,000 investment in dozens of alcohol services this Christmas, including ‘drunk tanks’, as a means of alleviating strain on A&E during the final weekend before Christmas.

Merrymakers will be able to receive check-ups for drinking too much without going to hospital under the scheme

Supervised areas where revellers who have over-indulged in the merrymaking can be checked over and even sleep it off, rather than go to hospital unnecessarily, are already used in cities including Exeter, Norwich and Blackpool.

The NHS estimates that 12% to 15% of attendances at emergency departments in the UK are due to drunkenness.

This figure peaks on Friday and Saturday nights where as many as 70% of attendances are alcohol related.

Studies into the effectiveness of NHS-operated “Alcohol Intoxication Management Services” (AIMS) won’t be complete until 2019, but NHS chief executive Simon Stevens has said “drunk tanks” run by charities, councils and voluntary groups can take pressure off paramedics, nurses and doctors during the festive season.

Stevens said: “NHS does not stand for ‘National Hangover Service’ which is why we want to help other organisations take care of those who just need somewhere safe to get checked over and perhaps sleep it off.”

“I have seen first-hand while out with ambulance crews in the run-up to last Christmas the problems that drunk and often aggressive people cause paramedics and A&E staff who just want to help those who need it most.”

The chief executive also urged local authorities to make more use of a “late night levy” which they can impose on bars and clubs to put on safe spaces for revellers.

Currently five ambulance trusts had applied for funding, as well as the Soho Angels scheme in London.

Ambulance services are proposing to use the extra funding to cover additional locations and enhanced hours within their regions.

A number of schemes have been launched across the UK to help with alcohol-related A&E attendances, including council funded “Safe Havens” and “Booze Buses”, which are large vehicles that go round city centres picking up inebriarted people.

One of the first beneficiaries of this scheme will be Soho Angels scheme in London, where Westminster City Council and the LGBT Foundation are partnering to ensure that everyone gets home safely from the West End this festive season.

The scheme has the backing of St John Ambulance, Drinkaware, the Metropolitan Police Service, London Ambulance Service and Safer West End.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils, backed NHS England’s move, which will allow drunk tanks to open for longer than originally planned.

Chair of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, Ian Hudspeth, said: “Councils want everyone to stay safe and enjoy the festive period but realise there will always be a temptation for people to drink too much at this time of year.”