Leicester's triumph increases the pressure on emergency staff
An assistant chief nurse in Leicester has described the extra pressure faced by the city's emergency department as jubilant football fans celebrated their club's title triumph last weekend.
Maria McAuley was on call on Sunday (May 8) at Leicester Royal Infirmary and said the ‘always busy’ department was stretched even further by a high number of extra patients.
Figures show the department was 30% busier than normal as fans of Leicester City FC celebrated after their club was presented with the Premier League trophy on Saturday.
Ms McAuley said the majority 'were supporters a bit worse for wear from alcohol’ who presented with a range of minor injuries from cuts and bruises to broken bones.
She said: ‘The emergency department is always busy with older people and Sunday was also a really hot day which always brings extra pressure.
‘The fact this was added to with the fans did not make for a good combination.’
The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust had prepared for the influx by bringing in extra staff, including more nurse practitioners to deal with an increase in minor injuries.
Ms McAuley said the majority were treated and sent home, but some did remain for extra observation, for example those who had suffered head injuries during falls.
‘The atmosphere was good among staff and patients, but as time went on you did become keen to reach the end,’ she said.
Ms McAuley said everyone had been behind the team as the excitement of potentially winning the title for the first time in the club’s history mounted.
Leicester began the season at 5,000-1 odds to win. Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Everton was the culmination of a nine-month-long campaign.