Emergency Department staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, are asking local people to be careful over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, especially if they are hanging out the street bunting, planning a barbecue or doing a spot of gardening.

The soaring temperatures that London enjoyed last weekend coincided with over 40 people on Sunday alone requiring surgery at St George’s for major burns and serious injuries as a result of leisure pursuits that went badly wrong.

The hospital is home to one of the busiest Emergency Departments in the country, providing specialist treatment for life-threatening conditions. The hospital is also one of four major trauma centres in London which means that the London Ambulance Service bring people with the most serious injuries straight to St George’s from across southwest London, Surrey and Sussex.

Jaiganesh Thiagarajan, Emergency Department consultant, says: “We are used to treating high numbers of patients all year round but when the summer arrives we see a big rise in the number of people who get hurt when they should be enjoying themselves. The message is simple: if you are having a street party, barbecuing, gardening or simply sunbathing, enjoy yourselves but please be careful.

“The four day Jubilee weekend will be a very busy one for hospital staff across London. It is therefore important that people think very carefully about the most appropriate place if they do require healthcare, rather than heading straight for Emergency Department. While many GP surgeries will be closed, people can still go to minor injuries units, walk-in centres and community pharmacies for treatment and advice.”

The NHS Choose well campaign helps to direct people to the most appropriate care. Advice is also available by calling NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. For more information about what local health services are available visit www.nhs.uk.

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact the Communications Unit on 020 8725 5151 or email communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk. Outside working hours, please page us by calling 0844 822 2888, leaving a short message and contact details for pager SG548.

Walk-in centres and minor injury units around Wandsworth

The Junction Health Centre
Grant Road, Clapham Junction SW11 2HE
Opening hours: 08.00hrs – 20.00hrs, seven days a week
Telephone: 0333 200 1718
The Junction Health Centre website

Tooting NHS Walk-in Centre
Clare House, St George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, SW17 0QT
Opening hours: 07.00hrs – 22.00hrs, last entry 21.00hrs. Open 365 days a year.
Telephone: 020 8700 0505
Tooting NHS Walk-in Centre website

Queen Mary’s Hospital Minor Injuries Unit
Roehampton Lane, Roehampton, SW15 5PN
Opening hours – 08.00hrs – 20.00hrs, last entry 19.30hrs. Open 365 days a year.
Telephone – 020 8487 6999
Queen Mary’s Hospital Minor Injuries Unit website