AN investigation has been launched after it was claimed university students were competing to see who could get the most trips to hospital in an ambulance.

The York University students have been accused of wasting NHS resources and placing further strain on under-pressure ambulance services after an online university newspaper published news of the freshers' week contest.

A picture shows students grinning as they pose next to an "ambulance chart" on the wall of their hall of residence kitchens.

The tally shows how many times each has been taken to hospital in an ambulance for emergency medical care in the first nine days of term.

In previous years, students kept 'chunder charts' on freshers' week, to log the number of times they vomited after a night out.

According to The Tab, the chart began after two female students had their drinks spiked and second year students at the university called the emergency services when they arrived home.

Another 999 call was allegedly made when an undergraduate required root canal treatment after getting into a fight in York, while another reportedly dislocated his shoulder jumping from a 15ft wall while walking home from a night out.

Another housemate in their halls of residence was taken to hospital for alcohol poisoning.

Those involved have been called into a disciplinary meeting.

A University of York spokesman said: “We are deeply concerned by the behaviour highlighted in the report, especially at a time when the NHS and Ambulance Service is under severe pressure.

“We have launched an investigation and the students involved have been called to a disciplinary meeting.

"We will continue to work with our Colleges and the Students' Union to ensure all our students are reminded of their responsibilities on and off campus.

“We have a good relationship with partners across the city and initiatives include a river safety campaign and a NightSafe student volunteering project, all designed to alleviate pressure on the emergency services.

“The Students' Union also works closely with bars and clubs in the city encouraging responsible drinking.

"With the recent arrival of thousands of new students in York, the university has teamed up with other agencies to provide first aid in the city centre, transport to campus and assistance for those needing to recuperate from a night out.

"We want our students to enjoy their time at York but in a safe and considerate manner."

The cost to the NHS for each emergency trip to hospital in an ambulance costs in the region of £250.

It comes as health services in York are experiencing their most challenging funding crisis in recent years.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which runs York Hospital, is set to run out of money this month and will rely on a Government funded loan to pay for services.

At the same time, Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group, which commissions health services across the city, has been placed in a capped expenditure process.