MEDICAL practitioners working in Wrexham's night-time economy saw hundreds of casualties during their first year in the city centre - and are expecting to see demand increase over Christmas.

Colin McGivern, owner of Events Medical Team Saltney, said his private medical company has been providing help to people on nights out from Hafan y Dref at the bottom of Town Hill since November of last year.

The facility is benefiting from the Safer Streets Fund, a Home Office programme that encourages Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities to bid for investment for initiatives to prevent neighbourhood crime. 

Employed by Wrexham Council, Mr McGivern's team has seen more than 900 casualties in just over 12 months.

Mr McGivern said: "The causes range from drug and alcohol use, injuries to mental health crises."

READ MORE: How £500,000 Safer Streets Fund will be spent in Wrexham

He said as well as providing medical treatment, his team offers a range of other help.

"We provide blankets when they're cold at night," he explained.

"When they've had too much 'happiness,' we hydrate them.

"And if they ladies are really stuck, we provide flip-flops for them."

Mr McGivern said while he isn't expecting demand over the festive period to spike too much, his team is preparing for an increase.

He added: "I expect it to be a slight increase from that we're getting now.

"At the moment, we have 20 to 30 cases a weekend.

"I'm expecting that to go up to between 40 and 45 a weekend."

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: "Prevention is better than cure and the work we are doing here is providing dividends.

"Schemes such as this are really proving their worth.

"It is really good for the night-time economy, and it takes pressure off the police force and health services, as well as helping businesses."

The Commissioner encouraged those coming to Wrexham for a night out in the coming weeks to do things in moderation and with consideration for others.

READ MORE: Wrexham - the welfare centre offering support on nights out

Sgt Claire McGrady, of Wrexham City Police, said: "We are really proud of Hafan y Dref - it is extremely important to the city centre.

"It provides an excellent medical provision and support for those on a night out.

"The team is excellent. They attend to incidents, so if you fall over for example, you can come to the medical centre rather than having to go to A&E.

"The police, Hafan y Dre, street marshals, the local authority - we're all working together so Wrexham City is a great place for people to come at night and in the day, and so they feel safe while they're here."

Councillor Paul Roberts, lead member for Community Safety and Partnerships, said: "It's a wonderful facility - they do a remarkable job.

"It assists in relieving pressure on the NHS, police and ambulance services."