NHS staff are asking partygoers who plan on starting their festive celebrations early on Friday to take care of themselves and their friends to help avoid unnecessary visits to hospital.

With Christmas just days away, nightclubs, pubs and restaurants are preparing to host many merry punters for the annual celebration, commonly known as Mad Friday.

Jane Whichello, South Western Ambulance Service’s deputy county commander for Wiltshire said: “Everyone likes to let off steam and celebrate at this time of year, NHS staff included.”

But she added: “Our services are already stretched to breaking point and if everyone can do their bit to help themselves, it will help us to make sure our services are available for those who need them most.

“NHS staff should be spending their time helping patients in genuine need of urgent medical attention rather than dealing with alcohol-related accidents that could be easily avoided with a bit of planning and foresight.”

With hospitals, accident and emergency departments and ambulance services already under pressure, staff at NHS organisations across the county are asking everyone planning to celebrate on Friday to intersperse any alcohol intake with regular glasses of water and take responsibility for themselves, to make sure they know in advance how they are getting home and to look after each other, including helping friends home.

If they do run into problems and need urgent medical help they should call NHS 111 to speak to a fully trained adviser.