Hit alcoholics in the pocket

Sir, - The A&E departments in Scottish hospitals are under extreme pressure, especially at weekends, when the irresponsible drinking and partying crowd hit the various drinking establishments and then expect the NHS to treat them.

In England 70 per cent of A&E attendances on Friday and Saturday nights are due to alcohol consumption. Scotland is no better. Doctors and nurses have long pleaded for action to get these social misfits away from A&E and into specialist drunk tanks.

A friend had to go to A&E with a serious illness but was kept waiting whilst two drunks demanded immediate attention, claiming they were diabetic.

Drinking too much is not an illness or an accident but a selfinflicted injury.

The Scottish Government must lead the way in the UK and not only introduce drunk tanks but make a charge of at least £100 for the

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A friend had to go to A&E with a serious illness but was kept waiting whilst two drunks demanded immediate attention, claiming they were diabetic

resultant overnight accommodation and treatment.

Hitting these people in their pockets will have a more immediate effect than a lecture on alcohol abuse.

Clark Cross.

138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.