Warning over drinking at new year

Hospital staff are expecting a busy time over the new year

New year revellers are being warned to drink sensibly to see in 2008 - or risk ending up in hospital.

Swansea NHS Trust said too many people ignored alcohol advice at Christmas, resulting in doctors and nurses having to deal with drink-related injuries.

They included two stabbings and several assaults at the city's hospitals, a dozen cases of domestic violence and patients unconscious through alcohol.

A&E consultant Andy McNab urged: "Have fun but please drink responsibly."

He said with New Year's Eve falling on a Monday, he was concerned people would be drinking more over the long weekend.

"We have had to deal with a lot of alcohol-related incidents and it seems the sensible drinking message still needs to get through," he added.

Pressure on staff

Mr McNab also wanted to remind patients to use NHS Direct Wales or their local GP out-of-hours service, rather than go to A&E for an everyday illness or minor injury.

Swansea NHS Trust, which is responsible for Morriston and Singleton hospitals in the city, said that over Christmas a number of patients turned up with minor complaints.

These included tonsillitis or flu-like symptoms, which would have been more appropriately treated by a GP.

This put added pressure on staff in an already very busy department.

Mr McNab said: "People face a long wait if they turn up in A&E with a minor ailment. We are obliged to treat patients with more serious illnesses and injuries first.

"It is much better if they use the appropriate services like the GP out-of-hours service."

NHS Direct Wales can be contacted on 0845 4647. The local GP out-of-hours telephone contact details are usually available via an answerphone message at surgeries.