Inside Health: Icy slips push up A&E figures

Published on Wednesday 11 February 2009 21:21

WHENEVER the snow starts to fall, panic sets in about the state of Scotland's roads and the importance of gritting our fair highways for the sake of motorists.

But what seems to be ignored in the clamour to clear the way for cars is the state of our pavements as pedestrians inch their way along perilous residential streets.

Now medics have told The Scotsman that much more thought needs to be given to the benefits of gritting the pavements, as A&Es report a rising number of people suffering the results of slippery walkways.

There is particular concern for the elderly, who need much less of a bump to do themselves serious damage.

One A&E consultant said the alarm was first raised last December, when Glasgow hospitals saw their busiest ever day dealing with injuries caused by people falling on the pavements.

"People were coming in with quite minor things, such as broken ankles, dislocated shoulders, broken wrists … It was just impossible to walk on the pavements. It was like an ice rink.

"It's easy to say that people should not go out, but they may need to get food and visit others."

The consultant added: "Nobody was prepared for the cold spell at all."

Similar injuries have been seen in A&Es as a result of the latest cold snap, which has left many footpaths covered in a sheet of ice that even the most sturdy of footwear can struggle to cope with. The emergency doctor called for local authorities to consider whether it might be possible for more pavements to be gritted, so pedestrians had the same benefits as motorists.

He said while this would inevitably lead to extra costs, it would reduce the expense caused by people suffering injury.

"A lot of them will need to be admitted to hospital. Some need operations.

"But even for younger people, if they are injured they may have to take time off work, which costs businesses money."

The doctor said that even if all pavements could not be gritted, there may be a case for focusing attention on areas where elderly people live, such as residential homes.

"I don't think they would have the capacity to grit every pavement, but maybe we should be looking at increasing the number that we do grit at the moment," he said.

"Doctors would certainly like for this to be considered."