Assaults add to pressures on A&E

Rochdale Infirmary

Patients who have been assaulted are adding to the pressures put on Accident and Emergency departments on Friday and Saturday nights, according to new figures.

Hospital records published by The NHS Information Centre reveal that of the almost 13.8 million recorded attendances at A&E across the country in 2008-09, 1.3 per cent (181,568) were due to assault.

Nearly half of recorded A&E attendances for assault took place over the weekend (between 6pm Friday and 00.59am Monday).

But, because not all hospitals submit full records, the true figures are likely to be even higher.

With regards to general A+E attendances, the report shows that:

• 10am and 6pm were the most popular times to attend. 
• Sports injuries peaked at 4pm on Saturdays, noon on Sundays and 9am on Mondays. 
• Injuries through self-harm tended to peak around midnight every day. 
• Both men and women aged between 20 and 29 attended A&E the most.

At the Pennine Acute Trust, which runs hospitals in Rochdale, North Manchester, Bury and Oldham there were 227,535 attendances across the four A+E departments in 2008-09.

Men attended 141,823 times and women 134,706 times, with 10am on a Monday morning the most popular time to visit.

Tim Straughan, chief executive of The NHS Information Centre, said: “The report gives a fascinating insight into the workings of A&E departments across England and the patterns of usage by patients with different types of ailments.”