General Chat

Like George, I have been extremelly piddled in my youth, but never to the extent of needing the emergency services.
I drink so much - then peacefully fall asleep, then 'come to' after 10 minutes - when I would go home - hardly A & E fodder.

If you can't take the heat - stay out of the kitchen, likewise, know your drink limit.

If you MUST drink to oblivion, there should be a limit - how about charging those who REGULARLY require the A & E - and of course, those who are abusive/offensive to staff should be fined in some way,

I'd say that a lot of people who end up in A&E do so through their own actions.

People who play sport and get injured; people not watching where they are going who fall over; people doing DIY and injure themselves; carelessness while preparing food etc etc.

Where do you draw the line?

Gwynne

How about making the Publicans/Club owners pay up and be fined for selling booze to people who are already drunk and get a system like the Americans, All night courts,might make a few people realise its going to cost more in fines etc than get stoned.**M**.

sounds good to me Merlin

I think I am right in saying that in Gloucester on high days and holidays there is a special team employed in the city centre. They did once have some sort of shelter erected I think. People who were thought to be drunk and in need of assistance were seen first by these professionals and assessed as to whether they needed hospital treatment or just temporary care and advised on getting home etc. that was at least some ambulances were saved from being tied up.

we have one of those in Cardiff Ann, high days and holidays - takes a lot of pressure off A & E

Gwynne - I agree totally. Many A & E cases involve people who have had an accident due to their own actions. Should a person be charged because they "chose" to do DIY and injured themselves? Should a cyclist be penalised because they fell off their bike having made the free decision to go out cycling? Should a rambler have to pay for treatment because they stumbled whilst pursuing their preferred pastime?

We have a free health service and should be proud of it. If someone drinks too much and has an accident due to being inebriated then maybe there is an underlying problem in the first place, be it psychological or purely poor education.

Merlin - that is already the case. A personal licence holder can be heavily fined for supplying alcohol to an individual who is drunk.

Trouble is though,,,,,,,its not the drunk who call for a med team or the police,,,,,,its someone else,,,,,,,,,an injury from DIY or other isnt usually because of being drunk out your skull,,,,,,,,,,but a cyclist,,,,,,,,well theres many doing a wobble after coming out the pub, :-D :-D

and many who ride around at night with no lights and wearing dark clothing!!!

You cannot compare a DIY accident with someone who deliberately goes out with the sole intent of drinking themselves insensible!

Medical attention being diverted to these selfish individuals will, if it hasn't already, cost lives.

You try hearing that your SIL would be widowed, your 5 week old grandson will have no mother, we would have lost a daughter and our two children would lose a sister IF our SIL hadn't fought for a paramedic instead of waiting for an ambulance to be free.

ah - you're awake then Sue - Mr Daff is trembling with fright!!!!

He should be, he woke me up on my mobile :-|

My point being Kay that it is usually an accident that has occurred through freedom of choice - something we are lucky to have in my country - so where do we draw the line? Once we start trying to all be triage nurses and decide whether a person merits an ambulance or the "drunk squad" we leave ourselves open to litigation - more cost!

Errol freedom of choice that maybe,,,,,,,but when its a self inflicted choice where one can control the limits then any sub-concequences from over stepping that choice to keep you or make you safe then relies on a force,,be it law or medical if it results in that .......I've seen enough OTT drunks brought in to A&E.then I'd not have a problem of a charge being made,,,,,,,

some poor sod having a heart attack hasnt got that choice,,,,,and has to wait till the ambulance has dropped of another rat assed drunk.

I dont think anyone is trying to be a triage med,

Sorry Kay did not realise you worked in A & E. However I stand by what I said - we cannot be a nation of unqualified triage nurses and the litigation implications are unfathomable and somewhat scary in that a person in the street would have to decide whether a person needed genuine medical care or merely a dose of sobering up

Hope you never need an ambulance to save a loved one and because it can't be allocated in time someone you love doesn't even know that they have had a baby because the brain has been damaged by the time they receive emergency treatment.

In these parts if you dial 999 you get a paramedic who decides if you need an ambulance and stays with you until one arrives.

That has cut down on a lot of timewasting calls. If it isn't a real emergency they offer advice and tell people to get a taxi or a lift to A&E.

Obviously if a doctor calls then an ambulance is sent.

I do take your point about lack of emergency ambulance, Sue, but I would be just as angry if one didn't turn up because it was picking up someone who fell off a mountain or someone who broke something playing sport as I would if one was delayed by picking up drunks.

I'd also be furious with the people on the end of the phone who make the decisions.
Gwynne