ANYTHING that attempts to alleviate the pressure on our accident and emergency system should be welcomed.

As the winter period sets in, when traditionally A&E is at its most stretched, the last thing needed is drunken students taking up time and resources.

It is why South Central Ambulance Service is introducing its SOS bus that will be driving around the city centre on Friday and Saturday nights.

With a paramedic and St John Ambulance volunteers on board, the bus will be able to provide help for those with minor injuries from drinking too heavily.

It will also help to reduce the danger posed to those who are so drunk they cannot stand or speak or find their way home.

The cost of the service is likely to be outweighed by that saved in reducing the number of people being admitted to A&E.

Health bosses will be eager to see the results of the trial, which will continue until March next year, to see if it has a quantifiable impact on A&E waiting times.

Amid all this though is the fact this bus has been trialled to counter the effects of drinking too much among our youngsters.

A better long-term solution, but a far tougher one to achieve, is removing the binge-drink culture of weekend party-goers.

Saving Our Students should be the ultimate goal.

 

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