The accident and emergency department at the Queen’s Medical Centre dealt with hundreds of patients on New Year’s Day as Nottingham’s main hospital experienced ‘incredibly busy’ periods.
The surge led to waiting times as long as six hours for some patients, as doctors took the combined strain of people who had overindulged in their celebrations and those turning to them when GPs were closed.
The hospital issued appeals through social media as more people came through the doors through January 1, saying on Facebook: “Wait times could be as long as six hours due to the volume of patients. If your condition is not urgent or life-threatening please use one of these alternatives.”
It later thanked people for sharing the appeal, adding: “Our emergency department is still incredibly busy, and has seen over 400 people through its doors so far today. There are still very long waits to be seen in some cases. If you can use an alternative please do.”
The hospital’s ruling trust has long-term plans to replace the current Emergency Department, which frequently misses targets on waiting times and often treats more than 500 patients a day in a department originally designed for 350 a day.
East Midlands Ambulance Service, which covers Nottingham and the region, said it received 1,027 calls in the first six hours of 2018.
It said ‘many’ were related to illness or injury caused by too much alcohol, and planning meant it was able to cope.
Dr John Stephenson, the service’s Associate Medical Director said: “Traditionally New Year’s Day is our busiest of the year. We planned to have more front line colleagues on duty, we set up temporary treatment centres in towns and cities across the East Midlands and we set up a strategic cell to help us manage the expected spike in demand.
“Together with the rest of the NHS we also urged the public to have fun but to stay safe as they celebrated.
“Despite our appeals too often our emergency ambulance clinicians spent their time caring for people who were unwell after excessively drinking alcohol, either at home or out on the town.
“The next few days will continue to be very busy for us and other emergency health services. People that start to feel unwell are urged to seek early advice from a pharmacist, walk-in or urgent care centre – where no appointment is needed, or by visiting their general practitioner. Please don’t leave it until you become seriously unwell.
“We do not have an endless supply of ambulances and people reported to be in a life-threatening condition such as cardiac arrest, who are not breathing or are unconscious, remain our priority.”
