Deck the halls with rows of trolleys . . . emergency departments are busiest over the Christmas holiday period

Between 2001 and 2006, average weekly counts of emergency department visits increased by 9% during the holiday period. The holiday increase was largely accounted for by visits that were less urgent, and for patients who were not admitted, did not arrive by ambulance, had a shorter treatment time and arrived between 08:00 and midnight. In 2005–2006, average weekly counts of GP-type visits increased by 21% compared with 8% for emergency department visits overall. However, GP-type visits accounted for only 39% of the additional holiday visits. GP-type visits increased mainly for adults and more in urban than rural areas.