Emergency Department Presentations During Southwest Leavers Week 2022: A Retrospective Observational Study

To inform in-event health service (IEHS) delivery and harm minimisation strategies for the planned youth mass gathering event (MGE) known as 'Leavers' in the Southwest region of Western Australia. This study aimed to describe patient emergency department (ED) presentation characteristics and outcomes for Leavers WA.

A retrospective observational study of patient presentations by Leavers to the Busselton ED at the 2022 MGE. This included 4 days with IEHS operation (7 pm to 1 am), 2 days prior to and 3 days post the MGE. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics.

Of 9621 Leavers, 121 (1.26%, PPR 12.6/1000) presented to ED: 12 prior to, 85 during and 24 post the MGE. The majority of presentations were from the community (n = 103, 85.1%). Of 557 Leavers who presented to the IEHS, 18 were transported to hospital (TTHR 1.87/1000). The majority of presentations were ATS 3 and ATS 4 (43.8%, 42.1%). Medical illness was the most common presentation category (n = 59, 48.8%). 51.2% of presentations were related to alcohol/illicit substance use. 85.6% of Leavers were seen and allocated a discharge disposition within 4 h.

Leavers WA celebrations introduced a significant burden on the regional ED with over half the presentations drug and alcohol related and the majority of patients requiring urgent or semi-urgent assessment. The IEHS likely reduced this burden during operational hours. Future research should focus on standardisation of data collection, comparing IEHS and ED presentations, and measuring effectiveness of harm minimisation strategies.