Medics are urging people to drink responsibly and look after friends who drink too much, so they don’t divert the service from patients in serious need of treatment.
The London Ambulance Service’s (LAS) #NotAnAmbulance campaign follows figures showing over 3,272 recorded alcohol-related incidents in the City of London and Hackney over the past year.
Natasha Willis from the LAS said: “It is no longer a weekend phenomenon as our crews have to respond to alcohol-related calls every day of the week, taking resources away from those who need us most.
“There is then an impact on operations in The City of London and Hackney, as ambulances are taken off the road to be cleaned and disinfected.
“A lot of the patients we respond to on Friday and Saturday nights don’t need an ambulance – they need a friend to take responsibility to get them home safely and look after them.”
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