An exasperated A&E doctor has described chaotic scenes in hospital as the bank holiday weekend got off to a boozy start in lockdown.
The Manchester doctor said drink-related incidents and violence spiked on Friday night as patients appearing to have been injured defying lockdown landed in the emergency department.
Dr Ben Stewart said his team were shocked at the numbers of people requiring treatment last night and well into the early hours of this morning, reports the Manchester Evening News.
He described chaotic scenes during his 12.5 hour shift, with many patients being taken to hospital for alcohol or drug related injuries.
The doctor said A&E had been noticeably quieter since the UK's lockdown was introduced, due to people avoiding hospitals because of coronavirus and less people going out drinking.
But that changed last night as the long weekend kicked off with a scorching start and Brits flocked outdoors.
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The docotor said it was back to the 'pre-lockdown days' and it appeared a lot of people had become relaxed about the restroctions.
He said: "The number of alcohol or drug related accidents, violence and crime rocketed last night.
"The police we saw said it had been their busiest night since New Year’s Eve 2013.
"We knew it was going to be busier than normal. Bank Holidays are always busier.
"The NHS for the last four or five weeks in A&E, it became a lot more quiet.
"We thought we would see a bit of a peak, but it was just a shock to everybody really."
The doctor said people were attending for drink-driving injuries, cars flipping over, assaults and even violent stabbings.
He said there were still patients coming in with Covid-19 symptoms, but the majority were for drink related incidents and had attended alongside the police.
Dr Stewart said: "You are celebrating defeating a big enemy, but we are back in the same situation now.
"We need to be sensible, but people have got relaxed about it.
"I saw 12 or 13 patients last night, two had Covid-19, one had a headache, the rest were assaults or car accidents.
"All kinds of unnecessary incidents. I am hoping everybody will wake up with a bit of a hangover today and today will be better.
"But it is a long weekend, with a Saturday included, and I am preparing myself for the worst.
"It is definitely back to the pre-lockdown days.
"We had seen a drop in footfall with people coming in, which is good as people who are genuinely sick are getting seen at the door.
"People forget that we still have people coming in with coronavirus. They are taking up a lot of our resources.
"But it has gone back to the good old days of everyone getting drunk and relying on A&E.
"I think in the North West we have surpassed London. We knew we would trail behind them, we have probably just peaked.
"You don't climb Everest and open few cans of beer at the top, you don't stop until you are back at base camp.
"People can have a good time, but we are not through everything yet. There is still a potential second wave particularly in the North West."
The doctors comments come after up to 100 people were seen meeting to drink champagne in Salford Quays.
Footage emerged showing cars blocking the road at Media City as a group of people were spotted playing music.
Residents said there were at 'least 50 people' present, with as many as '100 people' then showing up for the party from around 1.30pm on Friday.
A man was also taken to hospital with a head injury after a 'violent disturbance' broke out on Mersey Bank Avenue, in Chorlton on Saturday morning.
Police arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of section 18 assault.
Elsewhere, police despaired at scenes of Brits flouting social distancing rules amid the balmy holiday weekend weather.
Scenes of London parks packed with boozy picnics, and heaving VE Day street parties have deepened concerns social distancing rules are being flouted.
Brits been urged to stay home during the Bank Holiday as police warn motorists they face random checks, but some still had to be turned back from the UK's beaches.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tomorrow announce a review of the lockdown, with any easing expected to be cautious as the UK death toll tops 31,000.
