NHS Grampian treated its highest ever number of slips, trips and falls patients on Friday.
As the wintry weather continued to grip the north-east, more than 120 patients attended emergency departments as a result of falling.
On an average day, NHS Grampian medics see just 23 people as a result of slips, trips and falls.
A spokesman for NHS Grampian said: “On January 20 we saw the highest ever number of slips, trips and falls patients attend at our emergency departments, across the region.
“The winter weather has had a huge impact on our hospitals.
“In total 122 people attended at our EDs at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and Dr Gray’s Hospital, in Elgin on January 20.
“At ARI’s ED, more than 50% of the patients we saw on January 20 were as a result of slips, trips and falls.”
Snow and ice caused chaos across the north and north-east last week, leaving roads and pavements treacherous in places. There are no weather warnings currently in place for the week ahead.
Hospitals see 428 fall patients in just six days
Numbers fell on Saturday as the ice began to thaw, although trips to hospital for such injuries were still well above average – with 62 attendances at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
The spokesman added: “The cold snap has had a massive impact on our emergency departments. We have been extremely busy with patients coming in all the time.”
The health board also compared the week of January 15-21 with the one before, revealing they had dealt with a total of 428 fall patients compared to 144.
Broken down, ARI dealt with 272 up from 90 the week before; the children’s hospital 49 up from 12; and Dr Gray’s 107 compared to 42.
‘If you fall, take stock’
Last week, consultant Catharina Hartman offered advice to those who fall on icy pavements.
She said: “When you fall, take stock – are you able to move all your limbs and joints? If you can, slowly but surely get up and get going. If you are able to stand and walk, then that is safe to do. Then take some pain relief.
“We often see patients who haven’t taken any analgesia before arriving at hospital and that simple intervention can allow us to do a better evaluation of what the injury is but also provide comfort to the patient, who has attended because they are in pain.”
She urged people to rest, ice and elevate any swollen limbs, and to consult the NHS Inform website before heading to hospital.
However, she stressed: “If anything is looking completely out of place, it is a head or neck injury or there’s a big wound, that is when you need to come to the emergency department straight away.
“Typically, if there is no swelling, or very little swelling and you are able to move freely, you can be fairly reassured it is not going to be a bad fracture.
“We see swelling with sprains and other soft tissue injuries as well, but if there’s no swelling then you can be assured it is nothing serious.”
‘Absolutely lethal’ road in Peterculter as sheet of ice forms from water leak when a cold snap hits
Conversation