Boston-born health chief Jonathan Van-Tam has warned that the country is in a very dangerous situation ahead of the New Year.
The warning comes following yesterday’s announcement by the Government that Lincolnshire is now under tier 4 restrictions.
Mr Van-Tam said: “Unfortunately it is a pretty grim and depressing picture at the moment. The situation is precarious in many parts already.
“It is almost certainly true that the NHS has not yet seen the impact of the infections that will have occurred during mixing on Christmas Day.
“I know New Year is coming up, it is normally a time of great festivity and enjoyment but you have just got to play your part in bringing us back from this very dangerous situation that we find ourselves in.”
With people now being asked to see in the New Year from home, East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) are asking that we behave responsibly.
Dr Mark Folman, GP and Deputy Medical Director at EMAS, said: “New Year’s Eve is always a great opportunity to celebrate, and while most people drink responsibly, there are always some who drink too much and require medical help.
“This year it is easier to accidentally drink more because people’s alcohol tolerance may also be different if they have not been out drinking socially for some time due to pandemic restrictions, and it is easier to get a drink at home than if you were out in a pub or bar.
“However, while our ambulance crew is responding to someone who has had too much to drink, it means we cannot be responding to someone else experiencing a medical emergency.”
EMAS have suggested four tips for a safe and hangover-free celebration:
- Enjoy yourself but don’t drink excessive amounts of alcohol.
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass of water or fruit juice – this will help keep you hydrated.
- Never drink on an empty stomach.
- Know your limits: both men and women should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day (a 250ml glass of wine contains three units).
Richard Henderson, EMAS Chief Executive added: “We are here for people when they need us most. We have additional staff, volunteers and vehicles on duty this year to cope with demand, but I ask you to help us by celebrating New Year’s Eve sensibly, so we can prioritise our crews for those in the most serious need.
“Our frontline and control room teams, and our amazing volunteers, will be working incredibly hard this year to get to people in need.
“I thank everyone working over the New Year from the bottom of my heart for their ongoing commitment to their communities and EMAS.”
