Weather
Sunshine boozing leads to East Lancashire A&E surge (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Sunshine boozing leads to East Lancashire A&E surge
9:00am Monday 6th July 2009
DRUNKEN people enjoying the summer sunshine in East Lancashire have led to a huge increase in hospital admissions, accident and emergency bosses have revealed.
Cases, including people falling from trees, getting into fights, and mowing the lawn in open-toed sandals, have seen patient numbers at Royal Blackburn Hospital and local urgent care centres rocket in the recent heatwave.
Dr Charles Thomson, a consultant in emergency medicine at Royal Blackburn Hospital, said much of the increase in admissions was due to “totally avoidable” injuries.
And he said the problems meant that over-worked staff, already struggling to meet targets, were under ever-increasing pressure.
Dr Thomson said around 200 extra people per week had been reporting for emergency care across Blackburn and Burnley during the summer.
On Wednesday, between 6pm and 7pm, there were 37 people who reported to A&E, compared to a normal average of 10.
Dr Thomson said: “At the moment we are seeing quite a peak in the numbers of patients at our emergency department at the hospital and the urgent care centres in Blackburn and Burnley.
“There is a real issue with people going out in the sunshine and drinking too much.
"That then leads to accidents. The bulk of the additional work we are seeing at the moment is not dealing with the effects of the heat, or the sunshine, but those who have drunk too much.
“A lot of the injuries are really quite minor, but they do require attention and take up a lot of time for our staff.
“People make rash decisions when they have been drinking.
“We have seen many people in the past week or so where they have drunk 13, or 14 pints and then hurt themselves.
"Often they are people who have finished work early, or had the day off, and have got carried away.”
He said injuries have included broken bones after falls, and cuts and bruises after fights.
There have also been injuries caused by alcohol-related violence.
Dr Thomson said the emergency department normally deals with around 2,800 patients per week, although that number is currently over 3,000.
He said staff are able to deal with peaks in demand for the emergency department in the same way that there is a rise in admissions over winter months due to seasonal flu.
But he said: “Accidents do happen and, of course, we accept that, but alot of what we are seeing at the moment is so avoidable.
“We’ve even heard of someone having a few drinks and then mowing the lawn while wearing sandals and getting hurt.
"And every summer there are problems of people having too much too drink and then injuring themselves on the barbecue. “The message is that people should try not to overdo it.
"Dress appropriately, drink plenty of water and enjoy the summer.”
More News stories
- Burnley Council loses £350,000 on ‘school site’ homes
- Pendle MP calls for urgent improvement to ambulance figures
- Hundreds in Barnoldswick for funeral of ex-Burnley and Blackburn Rovers keeper
- Piazza plan for Burnley gateway
- Face of Adam Rogers' killer
- Star's Routemaster bus finds new home in Nelson
- Three Burnley fans charged with breaching banning orders
- International Women’s Day celebrated in Colne
Your Say YourCitizen
Lifeinthemix, Accrington says...
9:27am Mon 6 Jul 09
I cannot understand your reckoning here.
Was not the NHS set up to care for people who need it?
The idea that only those in employment are the only taxpayers is pre-school mentality.
If you need the care the NHS is free on need. Are you suggesting we all cease in enjoying ourselves?
Every time you spend money in this nation tax is generated.
Yes even those on unemployment pay tax, tax on energy, food, clothes.
This is what I mean when I say you are all dumbed down and TV zombies.
You have forgotton the whole ethos of the NHS and are happy to now believe that the NHS and all services in this nation are for those who earn money and pay income tax...only.
This is the reason the nation is going under because you have allowed the TV to brainwash you into seeing our democracy as no longer a good idea, that the state and its propoganda is god above sanity...
Then you moan about the government as it takes your freedoms away....contradictio
n in terms and you are most certainly it...
burnley lass, burnley says...
10:22am Mon 6 Jul 09
Izanears, Nelson says...
11:17am Mon 6 Jul 09
Obviously, like most things thought out by governments, public nature i.e. something for nothing, was not taken into consideration. While the treatment of genuine illnesses should be free, it is time those who want treatment for self inflicted illnesses,in this case by being drunk, should pay for their treatment.
Mike Costa, Blackburn says...
12:14pm Mon 6 Jul 09
If you are so drunk that you are incapable of looking after yourself, then your right to NHS treatment should be forfeit. If you can afford to pay for vast quantities of alcohol, then you can pay for the necessary medical treatment.
Only these half wits shouldnt be allowed to clog up the system at the hospital. Make them go to the modern day equivalent of a back street abortionist, let trainees practice on them. Anything to stop them repeat offending
happycyclist, Darwen says...
12:27pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Excellent idea!
charlie, rossendale says...
12:34pm Mon 6 Jul 09
akon, padiham says...
12:36pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Why should people who haven't paid into the system benefit?They are the problem !
Half wits?
Have you never had one to many Mr (High & mighty) Costa ?
Mike Costa, Blackburn says...
12:43pm Mon 6 Jul 09
At the risk of appearing too high and mighty for you Akon. I can honestly say that I have never got into such a state that I was incapable of coherent thought. It would appear that some of us dont need a drink to reach that state . Eh Akon?
And yes -'half wits' it is.
charlie, rossendale says...
1:24pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Inter-Rossiter, East Lancs says...
2:04pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Do they take their kids out into the countryside? No they don't. They go ago to the supermarket and buy cheap wine and packs of lard burgers. Then they get utterly drunk, fall about or fight.
I feel for the A&E staff, and the police, who have to deal with these cretins.
easymonies, Disneyland says...
2:25pm Mon 6 Jul 09
I'll stand with you and raise my glass to be a half-wit. I like a pint or 3 on occasions and would be absolutely embarrassed if I had to goto to A&E due to an intoxicated accident.
Ummmm... I was always lead to believe that my National Insurance payments were my contribution to the NHS not the VAT I paid on my weight inducing burger and beer.
alos, Akon, If people who have not paid contributions should not be entitled to the NHS service then 95% of the immigrants in this country would not get it. Then where would they be?
Lifeinthemix, Accrington says...
2:41pm Mon 6 Jul 09
I am tee total, but will fight for the right for all Blighties to be treated as and when they require it or I would refuse to pay national insurance.
If people come to the hospital and are violent then call the police which is another service we pay for to do exactly that.
I am sick of police and councillors moaning about the fact they have to perform the job we pay them for.
if one does not like their job, 'leave'so I can pay for someone who will carry out the mandate under which they draw a salary.
BacupBoy, Bacup says...
2:59pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Hopping mad, Blackburn says...
3:02pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Then we have an Immigration policy that has in recent years put more pressure on public services. Our open door that seems to be locked behind them as massive implications of the welfare of UK citizens.
Then finally there is pressure from dealing private company's that are not bothered about anything other than profits.
I think the best way to solve this crisis just like any other crisis is remove what as caused it in the first place. Stop shops selling alcohol and put it back in the place where it should be. Change policy to reduce the influx of foreign nationals coming here and stop private investment which is driving down staff to raise more profits.
Harleygirl, Blackburn says...
3:22pm Mon 6 Jul 09
I was in ASDA the other day a woman with a young child shouted the worst language I've heard at the customer service woman because she couldn't have a refund on something. No regard for anyone around her or for her child, who she had threatened all the way round the store.
What a lot of people in this country need to learn is respect for others.
Truth will out, Burnley says...
3:25pm Mon 6 Jul 09
Either:
Make intoxicated people pay for their treatment
OR
Tax the brewers so much that they are forced to take some social responsibility for their products.
Either way will work but there isn't a government that has the balls to do it.
akon, padiham says...
3:37pm Mon 6 Jul 09
easymonies
So you seem quite happy to pay your contribution's to enable people who have NOT paid a penny to get FREE treatment.
So why when we travel to other countries do we have to pay insurance ?
If we are taken ill why don't we just sponge off their NHS ?
Charlie ref working in A & E you have my admiration,i wouldn't do the job,due to the constant rule changing by Jobsworth's & politician's.
Also lets ban drunks from receiving treatment then ,so who's next?
Smokers ? Oap's? gays ?
pete08, blackburn says...
6:55pm Mon 6 Jul 09
easymonies, Disneyland says...
9:37pm Mon 6 Jul 09
In answer to your response, I think you misunderstood the point. They wouldn't be here.
And no, nothing pi$$es me of more than the free loaders milking our system.
Get Labour out and we might be able to start moving forward.
icannotrace, says...
5:47am Tue 7 Jul 09
alos, Akon, If people who have not paid contributions should not be entitled to the NHS service then 95% of the immigrants in this country would not get it. Then where would they be?
I know that they wouldn't be in the UK sponging off the NHS
mebs, blackburn says...
9:46pm Tue 7 Jul 09
De La Rosa, Blackburn says...
12:27am Wed 8 Jul 09
I plan to drink more now i've seen this article
SUMMER ADVICE:Dr Charles Thomson
Local advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Jimmy Paterson, Shadow of Pendle says...
9:20am Mon 6 Jul 09
Local taxpayers are sick to death of our hospital filling with people who don't deserve treatment there or have never paid a penny into the UK healthcare funds.