Impact of the New Zealand 2011 Rugby World Cup on an urban emergency department.

Aims: The next Rugby World Cup will take place in England commencing August 2015. This paper describes the preparation and workload relating to the previous Rugby World Cup, held in New Zealand 2011, as it affected the primary receiving hospital for the main venue. This paper describes preparation arrangements and actual workload patterns to assist planners with future similar events.

Methods: Preparations for the tournament were summarised, and data gathered from the Auckland City Hospital database were analysed for total and hourly presentation rates, short-stay observation workload, admission rate, 6-hour target compliance and type of presentation.

Results: Overall workload during the tournament increased by 8%, but much larger spikes in attendances per hour and short-stay workload related to the major events were experienced. Alcohol-related presentations were very much more prominent than usual. Pre-arranged additional staffing and flow arrangements allowed the department to maintain 6-hour target compliance.

Conclusion: Major sporting events, such as the Rugby World Cup, require special arrangements to be put in place for the main local receiving Emergency Department, especially around the major events of a tournament.