The hospitals in Drenthe can look back on a mainly quiet New Year’s Eve. The emergency department of the Scheper hospital in Emmen treated four fireworks victims, including a teenager. All had suffered minor injuries.
New Year’s Eve was therefore no busier than normal, says Linda Altena, head of the ER at Treant. “New Year’s Eve was even extremely quiet,” she emphasized. “We also didn’t have to send people on.”
No fireworks victims arrived at the Wilhelmina Hospital Assen (WZA). “We did not see them this New Year’s Eve,” says emergency doctor Aniek Crombach.
However, people have been brought in with an overdose (drink or drugs). “But we also see that on the weekends. It was manageable.”
In Treant the picture is the same. About five patients were admitted due to excessive alcohol consumption. The conclusion there too is: “No more than normal for a weekend.”
More hospitals in the Netherlands point to alcohol use, which caused them the most work. People fell and were injured because they drank too much, or they became unconscious because of excessive drinking. There were also many fights due to drinking.
For example, the emergency department of the Martini Hospital in Groningen treated eleven people who had alcohol poisoning. Last year there were two. One patient was so aggressive that security guards removed that person from the hospital.
The UMCG in the city treated nine people who had consumed too much drink or drugs and one fireworks victim.