M*A*S*H for the smashed

A Red Cross field hospital is being set up to cope with the binge drinking epidemic flooding accident and emergency wards.

The number of people reporting to doctors and A&E with liver cirrhosis, alcohol poisoning and alcohol-induced mental illness has trebled in the five years to 2005.

Gavin Bryce, who is responsible for alcohol policy at Brighton and Hove Primary Care Trust (PCT), said: "Young people are drinking more, earlier, and more young people are choosing to drink. Young women are drinking more here than anywhere else in Europe.

"Alcohol is much more readily available and we have got a culture where drinking to excess isn't frowned upon and is associated with having a good time."

St Paul's Church, West Street, Brighton, will be transformed into a safe haven and first-aid centre during the Christmas period.

The Safe Space project will be piloted over eight nights between December 21 and New Year, from 10pm to 3am, and could become a regular feature.

Church door staff will assess people on entry and direct them towards an area either to sober up, be sick or have their injuries treated.

Youth workers will provide information on safe sex and details of drug and alcohol services, while two Red Cross first aiders will treat injuries such as cuts and sprains.

Staff will then contact parents to ask them to collect their child or will put the person in a cab and send them home.

Brighton and Hove's reputation as a night-life hotspot has resulted in A&E wards being flooded at weekends. Cases of drink-related injuries and illnesses increased from 844 to 1,308 a year in the five years to 2005.

Alcohol abuse costs the NHS £1.7 billion a year and is responsible for 70 per cent of all A&E peak time admissions.

Mr Bryce said the figure is likely to be higher in the city.

He told The Argus: "We have quite a hedonistic approach in Brighton and Hove. We have a lot of licensed premises and a big influx of people at the weekend who want to have a good time and they want to drink."

The PCT and Hove YMCA, the organisations behind the £6,000 scheme, hope the first-aid facility and safe area will alleviate pressure on A&E during the busy festive period.

Suzie Davies, who was responsible for putting the bid together for the PCT, said: "The scheme came about to deal with the problems we see down in areas like West Street.

"We can alleviate some of the strain at A&E by helping people with minor injuries. But it is not just about injuries. It helps people if they lose their friends and it will keep people who may feel vulnerable safe."

Rachel Brett, of Hove YMCA, said: "Some young people find themselves vulnerable to an attack or theft. They may have lost their friends or can't get home, and we will provide them with support." The Centre for Public Innovation is funding six projects to tackle binge drinking in the city during the Christmas period, including Safe Space.

The Argus