Open AccessThe Experience of a District General Hospital with a Large Outdoor Music Festival in England
Author(s) -
Ashraf Kamour,
R M Yardley,
Mark Longshaw,
Jonathan Stuart
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acute medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-4892
pISSN - 1747-4884
DOI - 10.52964/amja.0657
Subject(s) - medicine , music festival , medical emergency , recreation , emergency medical services , emergency medicine , visual arts , political science , law , art
Objectives: To assess the impact of the Parklife annual music festival on the local hospital, North Manchester General. Methods: Data was obtained retrospectively by analysis of emergency department records during the weekend of Parklife 2015. Results: 32 patients were identified, 56% reported taking drugs. 34% were admitted for overnight observation. 4 patients presented with methaemoglobinaemia following oral ingestion of amyl nitrate. One patient had a methaemoglobin fraction of 90.6%, which is amongst the most extreme recorded in literature. Conclusion: Music festivals can impose a burden on local health services. Organisers should operate an efficient surveillance system in order to prevent the sale and use of recreational drugs, providing adequate on-site health services and working in collaboration with local emergency services.