A workload survey of police surgeons in Darlington, UK showing recent changes and detailed work patterns in 1998.
This paper gives an accurate picture of the police surgeon workload in the town of Darlington for the year 1998, and is compared with a similar workload survey done 5 years ago in 1993. The number of cases seen in 1998 shows an increase of 142% compared with 5 years ago, and various explanations are given as to the possible causes of this significant change. The pattern of call-outs for the time of day and the busiest nights of the week clearly shows the peak demands for our services in the evenings and especially Friday and Saturday nights. The breakdown showing the reason for attendance indicates the significant rise in drug addicts seen with associated drug-driving assessments. Examination for CS spray are compared with a correspondingly small number of baton injuries and injuries to police officers. This type of information could be used to introduce police surgeon recruits to the pattern of work that awaits them. Planning and budget implications could be more accurately predicted, and the figures could be used to compare with other areas for those police surgeons who also keep records.
Davison
C P
CP
Parkgate-Health Centre, Darlington, County Durham, UK.