At present in the United Kingdom, 12 towns are already equipped with “drunk tanks”. These buses are used to pick up drunk people on the public highway, in order to put them to safety and provide them with care, in particular with the aim of relieving congestion in emergencies.
The British authorities plan to generalize this practice throughout the country. Simon Stevens, head of the National Health Service (NHS), the UK’s public health service, said December 31st will serve as a test to measure its effectiveness.
Drunk tanks should not replace prevention
Ultimately, the democratization of “drunk tanks” should make it possible to relieve the emergency services. According to BBC, intoxicated people typically account for about 15% of admissions, a rate that can go up to 70% on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The first “drunk tank” appeared in Bristol in 2013. Its official name is “alcohol poisoning management service”. This system was put in place jointly by the police, ambulance workers and the local hospital. This bus is equipped with beds, showers, the necessary for blood tests and even oxygen. Police and paramedics are on board. Since then, other cities have followed such as Manchester, Cardiff and Newcastle.
According to Dr Katherine Henderson, an emergency medical consultant, “drunk tanks” are not the solution. “Putting in this kind of equipment is like saying ‘you can count on the NHS to provide you with a place to sleep,'” she told the site. Quartz. For her, it is better to have a prevention campaign to teach people to drink less in the first place.
An opinion that nevertheless shares Simon Stevens. “NHS does not mean National Hangover Service,” he said, calling on revelers to be moderated.
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