Detox unit at Pinderfields Hospital to cope with A&E demand on “mad Friday”

A specialist unit has been set up at Pinderfields Hospital to treat people who fall ill through drinking too much this weekend.

They will be taken to a mobile detox unit to ease pressure on the main A&E department at Pinderfields.

The unit has been set up to cope with an expected increase in attendances at A&E on “mad Friday”.

Kevin Oxley, director of operations at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust, said: “The last Friday before Christmas often sees an increase in people with alcohol-related injuries attending A&E.

“As a result of this, and working with our partners at Wakefield Council and Wakefield NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, we have jointly commissioned a mobile detox unit to work alongside the A&E service at Pinderfields Hospital this weekend.

“The unit will be staffed by nurses and supported by an additional doctor.

“When somebody attending A&E is deemed suitable, they will be treated by the unit rather than the main A&E service.

“This will allow us to concentrate our service on attendees by clinical need.”