POLICE rode ‘shotgun’ with Huddersfield paramedics on New Year’s Eve..

They planned to be there to deal with troublesome 999 calls on what is traditionally the busiest night of the year for the ambulance service.

Last year Yorkshire Ambulance Service took 2,550 people to A&E departments across the region – an increase of 34% on a normal day.

Many of the alcohol-fuelled calls are made within a concentrated period and it is hoped the scheme will also help to protect paramedics from harm.

Yorkshire Ambulance locality director Paul Mudd said: “We piloted the scheme in Hull and it is now being rolled out in Huddersfield, Halifax and Leeds.

“The initiative worked very well and it should mean the paramedic vehicle can quickly deal with injured people in the town centre as they will not need to wait for police assistance, in turn reducing the demand at the hospital.”

idlejohn wrote: “Those people who drink themselves senseless and then expect the emergency services to get them out of trouble should not be treated.

“They got themselves into that condition and should be left to sober up unaided unless it is obvious that they have life threatening injuries.

“It is not the emergency services’ job to nursemaid stupid drunks and those who are injured through alcohol abuse should pay the full cost of any treatment that the emergency services have to give them.

“Those guilty of assaulting emergency crews while drunk should be fast-tracked through the courts and fined and jailed. No on the spot fines or community orders but real punishment for a change.”

cape45 agreed: “What is this world coming to with the police having to ride with the ambulances? Why should our emergency services have to deal with over-the-top drinkers?

“They should all know when enough is enough and enjoy the night and go home. You always get those who are out to look for trouble when they have had a drink. Well, I say don’t treat them and save NHS money and also police money since the Government is doing all these cut backs.

“Better still, make them pay for the treatment on New Year’s Eve and they will soon realise that emergency services are not taxis for drinkers.”

anneb said: “If you can afford to get yourself into this state you can afford all charges from costs of the ambulance, police (if required) and the full cost of treatment.”

steven_colbert had a simple proposition: “How about we simply ban alcohol?”