HEALTH chiefs are urging extra care in cold weather after the latest figures revealed a staggering increase in hospital visits during the last icy spell.

On Christmas Eve the Echo reported A&E departments were dealing with more than double the usual number of casualties because of people slipping on icy roads and pavements. Now fresh statistics gathered at Poole Hospital and The Royal Bournemouth Hospital paint a fuller picture of the Christmas carnage.

And with yet more frosty conditions forecast hospitals are warning people, particularly the elderly, to take extra care and not walk on the ice if they can avoid it.

Poole Hospital saw a whopping 110 per cent rise in trauma admissions over Christ-mas week 2009 compared to 2008– up from 55 to 116. Most cases were broken wrists, ankles and head injuries – typical of falls on ice.

There was a 30 per cent increase in adult emergency admissions– up from 352 in 2008 to 458, and patients attending A&E increased by 28 per cent to 1,177 from 919 a year ago.

While at Bournemouth A&E attendances were up 26.6 per cent from 785 to 994 – with a 76.5 per cent rise in head injuries. Adult emergency admissions were up by 15.3 per cent to 550.

A Poole Hospital spokesman warned temperatures would fall below freezing on Saturday night, with daytime temperatures only reaching two to four degrees.

She added: “Extra care should be taken when walking out in icy weather, particularly pavements and only if absolutely necessary. Perhaps leave going outside until slightly later in the day to give the ice a chance to melt.”

She also emphasised the Choose Well campaign, urging patients to consider using their GP, walk in centre or local pharmacy for minor ailments instead of A&E.