'Every patient was a drunk injury': Despair over Bank Holiday A&E admissions
Medics claimed that weeks of social distancing in a bid to slow the virus had been "ruined in one night".
Tuesday 12 May 2020 15:42, UK
Medics have criticised people for defying the coronavirus lockdown and ending up in A&E with drunken injuries over the Bank Holiday.
One NHS nurse said that "nearly every patient" who attended Bridgend's emergency department in South Wales this weekend was "drunk with a head injury".
Her team were forced to do 12 CT head scans and "plaster numerous limbs" after people were seen congregating in large groups without social distancing and drinking in parks during the hot weather.
She said people who went against lockdown rules in her area had "completely ruined what little faith in humanity she had left".
She posted after her weekend shift: "After all these weeks of lockdown, social distancing and protecting the NHS, what do you do? You ruin all the hard work and effort in one night.
"All our staff were exposed to so many more people unnecessarily and so were you. Do you know how many have tested positive to this virus already?
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"I expect we'll be seeing you in about two weeks when you've got symptoms of the virus and we'll be welcoming in the next wave."
A Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board spokesman told Sky News: "In recent days our teams have reported seeing a steady increase in attendances at our emergency departments.
"The health board would like to take this opportunity to remind all our patients of the limitations in place during COVID-19 and family members and friends (with some exceptions) will be asked to wait outside so that we can keep everyone as safe as possible during this pandemic.
"We urge people to follow the government guidelines responsibly. This is critical to protecting themselves, their friends and family, and also our NHS staff who are working tirelessly to respond to COVID19 under very difficult circumstances."
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that only minor adjustments would be made to the country's coronavirus lockdown measures this week.
He said yesterday that the "stay at home" message had not changed in Wales, despite Boris Johnson's new "Stay alert, control the virus, save lives" slogan for England.
It comes after Britons were seen drinking, barbecuing and swimming in rivers amid 26C (78.8F) temperatures on Saturday.
Police in Hackney, east London, said they were "fighting a losing battle", while HM Coastguard said it had the highest number of callouts since lockdown began on Friday with 97 incidents - a 54% increase compared with April's daily average.