Doctors are encouraging Christmas party-goers to go easy on the booze this week, to avoid ending up in A&E.

The party season is one of the busiest times for hospital A&E units, particularly tonight which is traditionally known as Black Friday as it is the last Friday before Christmas.

Medway GP Dr Chris Markwick said: "We don’t want to be killjoys and dampen the Christmas spirit. We want people to remember their Christmas party for the right reason, not because they ended the night in A&E.

"Unfortunately some revelers end up drinking too much, spoiling their own fun and causing problems for others. Alcohol-related injuries can stretch hard-pressed A&E staff to the limit."

Dr Andrew Stradling, a consultant and clinical lead of emergency medicine at Medway Maritime Hospital, said: "It is sad to see people during the Christmas party season, who intended to enjoy themselves, ending up sick or injured in the emergency department. It’s horrible for them, for their families and friends.

"Although we want people to enjoy the season and have fun, the experience of ending up in hospital during Christmas could easily be avoided if people took measures to drink more responsibly."

Winter is always a busy time for the NHS. The cold weather leads to extra pressure on hospital A&E departments as more patients seek help for heart problems, breathing difficulties and stroke.

Dr Markwick, who is also a member of NHS Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, added: "Winter brings with it more injuries from falls and the spread of viruses, such as the winter vomiting bug, norovirus, which can force hospitals to close wards, cutting available beds for emergencies.

"Take care of your friends and family who may have had too much to drink. Help them get home safely and avoid injuring themselves. If people have a serious accident, or consider their condition to be life-threatening, then A&E may well be the right place for them."

He is also urging people with illnesses and injuries that can be treated at home, by a GP, a pharmacist, at a walk in centre or minor injury unit, to stay away from A&E so it is free for those who really need specialist care.

The walk in centre in Canterbury Street, Gillingham, can give advice for minor illnesses and injuries, such as infections and rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea, minor cuts and bruises and emergency contraception and advice. The centre is open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday, and can be contacted by calling 01634 575232.

If you are ill or injured but it is not serious enough for a 999 emergency, and you can’t visit a GP surgery, you can call the free NHS 111 number for advice.