Clinic for drunks to be closed

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Dec 8, 2005

Byline: By Craig Thompson

A booze clinic for late night revellers too drunk to get home has been relocated to an historic Tyneside church ( before being axed.

The all-night medical centre opens at 8pm tomorrow at St John the Baptist church hall, in Grainger Street, Newcastle.

It had been based at Newcastle's Guildhall but council chiefs say the hall is no longer available.

Residents living near the Guildhall, on Newcastle's Quayside, complained about the clinic being so close to their homes, as health chiefs revealed it is being phased out.

The Chronicle understands the centre, open on Friday and Saturday nights, will also open on New Year's Eve.

Father Neil Wilson, from St John's, said: "We believe this is a useful project and it's part of our duty to provide hospitality to those in need.

"We were asked if we would consider having it here and we're happy to do what we can to relieve pressure on hospitals."

The clinic, which has a capacity of 50, is treating an average of 20 people each weekend for minor alcohol-related injuries.

Alison Wake, head of urgent care at the NHS North Of Tyne Commissioning Consortium, has been leading the project. She said: "Last weekend, we had a couple of people who had to be transferred to Newcastle General Hospital. The majority just had far too much to drink."

The aim of the Remote Medical Centre was to relieve the pressure on the city's accident and emergency departments.

Although there had been hopes the project would be made permanent, a decision has been made to shut the clinic in the New Year. Ms Wake added: "Although we will be open on New Year's Eve weekend, the centre will not continue after that."

The unit is staffed by a doctor and paramedics from the North East Ambulance Service and volunteers from St John Ambulance Brigade and the British Red Cross. A Red Cross sign will be on display outside St John's this weekend.