Warning to anyone going out drinking on New Year’s Eve

People going out drinking on New Year's Eve have been issued a warning (Image: Getty)

Christmas may be over but the time for celebrations hasn’t finished just yet as many will be gearing up to ring in the New Year this evening.

But revellers planning to hit the town to enjoy a drink or two on New Year’s Eve have been issued a warning.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has called on partygoers to drink in moderation tonight to help reduce demand on resources after being forced to declare a critical incident on Monday evening.

The struggling ambulance service said more than 340 calls were waiting to be answered and over half of its ambulances were waiting to hand over patients outside hospitals, leaving some waiting hours for an ambulance.

The service expects problems will continue tonight as people celebrate the start of 2025 and has warned the public to only call for an ambulance in the event of a serious emergency.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, chief executive Jason Killens said: “People out celebrating can help us tonight by, of course, having a good time, but drinking sensibly, eating before they go out and looking after their friends.”

According to the NHS, 999 calls are for life-threatening emergencies such as serious road traffic accidents, strokes and heart attacks. Other emergencies may include:

• chest pain

• difficulty in breathing

• unconsciousness

• severe loss of blood

• severe burns or scalds

• choking

• fitting or concussion

• drowning

• severe allergic reactions

If it’s not a life-threatening emergency then you should call NHS 111 to check your symptoms and the call handler will tell you what to do.

Speaking on Monday, head of service Stephen Sheldon said: “The public can help by only calling 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency – that’s a cardiac arrest, chest pain or breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, choking or catastrophic bleeding.

“If it’s not a life-threatening emergency then it’s important you use one of the many alternatives to 999, starting with the symptom checkers on our NHS 111 Wales website as well as your GP, pharmacist and minor injuries unit. We must protect our precious resources for those who need them the most.”