Relatively quiet weekend
A&E STAFF NOT OVERRUN AS PUBLIC ‘ACTS RESPONSIBLY’
ACCIDENT and emergency was not overrun with patients as lockdown measures were eased in some parts of Leicestershire at the weekend, despite concerns staff would see “New Year’s Eve-type behaviour”.
Health service managers thanked those who went out over the weekend for “acting responsibly”.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) said it could not yet confirm the number of attendances over the weekend due to the data not being validated, but said patient numbers were “below average”.
Over the same weekend in 2019, the trust saw more than 1,000 people visit its emergency department at Leicester Royal Infirmary, which is one of the busiest in Europe.
A spokesman for Leicester’s hospitals said: “We continue to experience belowaverage A&E attendances versus this time last year and this remained the case over the weekend, despite the easing of lockdown across the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland.
“To all those who went out and acted responsibly, thank you.
“We are still here for people who need urgent or emergency care.”
Acting trust chief executive Rebecca Brown told board members last week, ahead of the reopening: “This weekend will see the opening of pubs in some parts of Leicestershire and we have to recognise this could have a big impact on the public.
“We have to be prepared from an A&E point of view.
“Our front door of the hospital is bolstering itself in readiness. We’re working with East Midlands Ambulance Service and the police to make sure we’re ready to support not only a surge in Covid but also a surge in typical behaviours of New Year’s Eve, for example.
“We need to be sure we’re ready and that if we do have challenges we’re ready to face those.”
She said staff at the infirmary had effectively been running four mini emergency departments since lockdown started; one for adults with Covid-19 symptoms and one for those without, and the same set up for children.
A joint statement on behalf of the area’s clinical commissioning groups, which commission healthcare services in the city and county, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust said: “It is important that the people of Leicester know that it is safe to access care.
“The NHS is still there for patients without coronavirus who need urgent and emergency services, with the 111 phone or online service the best first port of call.
“Anyone who has been asked to come to hospital – whether for an urgent matter or a booked appointment – should do so.
“We urge people to follow the guidance to protect themselves and others in the community.”
We continue to experience belowaverage A&E attendances
Hospitals spokesman