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British Hospitals Are Being Flooded with People Who Ate Too Many Easter Eggs

In a Facebook status shared on Easter Sunday, the South Tees Hospitals trust said that it had seen an influx of people at its accident and emergency departments with “stomach aches caused by overindulgence.”
Phoebe Hurst
London, GB
Photo via Flickr user whoshotJR

As you emerge from your cocoon of Creme Egg wrappers and chocolate-stained bedclothes, staring groggily into the cold light of Tuesday in the office after four days of back-t0-back Sunday lunches and sugar comas, here's something to make you feel slightly less subhuman: you're not the only one who ate so many Mini Eggs in the past 72 hours that you worry your blood sugar levels and all-round bloatedness might actually be life-threatening.

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Turns out, Britain ate so much chocolate this weekend that one accident and emergency (A&E) department had to ask people experiencing the after effects of their Easter egg binges to seek medical help elsewhere.

READ MORE: Eating Two Breakfasts Is Healthier Than Not Eating Breakfast At All

Issuing the plea via its Facebook page on Easter Sunday, the South Tees Hospitals trust said that it had seen an influx of people at the James Cook Hospital A&E department in Middlesbrough with "stomach aches caused by overindulgence." The status read: "If you've had one too many Easter eggs and a big Sunday dinner, you're likely to feel better after a rest at home and drinking plenty of water."

In other words, having an upset tummy because you ate all your Easter eggs in one go rather than saving them to enjoy throughout the week like your mum told you to isn't a serious enough ailment to warrant professional medical attention.

READ MORE: Eating Chocolate Makes Your Brain Work Better

While bank holiday holiday weekends are often busy times for A&E wards and recently released data showed that wait times had reached record levels at NHS hospitals in England, experts say that many people still go to emergency departments with minor injuries in hope of a quicker referral to a specialist.

Julie Suckling, directorate manager of A&E at South Tees Hospitals told The Independent: "Minor complaints that re-occur should be dealt with by a GP and you should only attend for assessment if you have an acute (sudden and serious) complaint, that requires emergency care."

Does a sudden and serious urge to bite the head off that remaining Lindt bunny count as grounds for emergency care?