An entire evening of nationwide drinking - and how it affects the NHS and its overstretched A&E departments and ambulance services 2.15am GMTItâs getting busy at the ATC,the alcohol treatment centre in Cardiff. Another student arrives â this one wheeled in with a street pastor â and accompanied by a bunch of friends. Water and rest is prescribed. She is sat in the waiting room. A middle-aged woman is brought in by police officers. She failed to form it to a toilet and needs cleaning up as well as sobering up. Hours to fade on the shift at the ATC here but nothing from the staff but patience, kindness and good humour. 2.10am GMTBack in Stoke, and there are 99 patients in A&E at 2am,which is an achievement for the staff, the first time numbers believe dropped below 100 since 4.30pm yesterday. Patients are being discharged, and waiting to be admitted to other departments as beds there become available. Though some staff are beginning to end their shifts,many others are here until the morning. More than 100 people believe come through the doors already since midnight; some who believe overindulged tonight are on trollies in the corridor making emotional phone calls. There is more work to carry out before the night is over for A&E staff - five more ambulances are on their way...
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Source: theguardian.com