Overdoing it at Christmas 'can put extra strain on a busy NHS'
Thursday 24th December 2009
People have been advised to avoid overdoing it during the festive season by one health expert. Commenting on the issue of excessive alcohol consumption, consultant liver specialist Dr Paul Southern suggested that the NHS is strained over Christmas and patients suffering the ill-effects of too much drink compound the problem.
The medical professional works for the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which became one of the first foundation trusts in April 2004. While he is not against alcohol, he said he has seen the negative impact that overconsumption can have, the Bradford Telegraph Argus reports. He claimed that 70 per cent of the patients admitted after midnight to hospitals run by the organisation have drink-related problems. This figure could rise as people celebrate around Christmas and New Year.
Dr Southern's warning came in the wake of the release of research commissioned by the charity Drinkaware, which predicted that Britons will consume a combined total of 602 million units of alcohol over the festive period, with nearly half of those polled suggesting they are likely to exceed the recommended daily unit guidelines.
Chief executive of the organisation Chris Sorek said that, while this figure is high and may cause alarm among those working in the NHS, it is likely to be an underestimate of the quantity of booze people will get through. He went on to urge individuals to take notice of how much they are drinking.
As well as putting immediate strain on the health service because of the possible short-term impact alcohol can have, it also has more long-term consequences for wellbeing and will cost the NHS in the long run, he cautioned. People who drink above the recommended level increase the risk of developing health problems such as liver disease, cancer, anxiety, depression and high blood pressure.
Another call for appropriate use of the NHS over coming days was recently reported in the Kidderminster Shuttle. It quoted a West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman as saying that 90 per cent of calls it receives are not emergencies. Patients should only dial 999 in the event of life-threatening conditions and scenarios, such as chest pain, strokes, serious blood loss, unconsciousness and choking, it was pointed out.
The representative stated: "Clearly, in these situations, it is entirely appropriate for people to dial 999 to access emergency care." However, the majority of instances in which ambulances are called are for minor cases such as strains and sprains, colds, flu and general feelings of being unwell, he claimed.
He added: "A recent case involved an ambulance crew being called to a man who wanted a dressing on a wound changing. When asked why he had called for an ambulance, he said he knew we would be with him within minutes of the call. The crew spent half an hour changing a dressing, time which could have been spent responding to a genuine life-threatening call."
The spokesperson went on to say that the number of 999 calls made to the NHS is constantly increasing. While service providers are managing to get to more patients within the target times set, he appealed to people to understand what the health provision is there for and how to use it correctly.
Another issue that has the potential to stretch the NHS over the yuletide season is the norovirus infection. In a warning issued earlier this month, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said people who have the so-called 'winter vomiting bug' should resist the urge to attend social functions such as Christmas parties, as this could lead to the condition spreading. In addition, patients should not visit friends or relatives in hospitals or residential care homes.
Individuals who come down with symptoms should isolate themselves at home until they have been feeling fully recovered for at least 48 hours, it recommended.
The HPA's Professor Qutub Syed said: "Norovirus infection is the most common cause of gastro-enteritis in the UK, affecting between 600,000 and one million people every year." He added: "It is generally a short-lived illness from which most people, even the frail elderly, recover without any treatment other than rest and taking plenty of drinks to replace lost fluids. However, norovirus is highly infectious and it can spread rapidly in close-knit communities."
When the virus gets into a hospital, it can cause serious problems, the medical expert suggested. For example, it can lead to wards being closed and routine surgery being cancelled. This is a "real shame" for those affected, he added.
If people manage to refrain from drinking too much, calling ambulance services in situations when it is not appropriate and do not venture into social settings when infected with viruses, there will be less pressure on NHS workers. This means that hospital staff will have more of a chance to get a well-earned break and the opportunity to spend times with their friends and families.
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