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Icy streets mean a slippy New Year
TREACHEROUS weather conditions have sent South Tyneside's accident rates soaring, it was revealed today.
Freezing temperatures and icy streets have caused a dramatic increase in hospital admissions.
Ambulance crews have reported one of their busiest Christmases on record, and South Tyneside Council has been swamped with hundreds of calls from residents stranded in their homes.
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Borough stores even ran out of gritting salt as people struggled to clear footpaths.
Staff at South Tyneside District Hospital in Harton Lane, South Shields, say they've seen a huge increase in patients admitted with broken bones, sprains and other fall-related injuries.
Additional operations have had to be scheduled to cope with all the minor accidents.
Dave Shilton, executive director of nursing, said: "On an average day our A&E staff will treat about 120 patients, but this Tuesday we had in more than 180 people, and on Monday there was more than 160, which is a significant increase.
"Although patients have been coming in with all sorts of ailments, a large number were due to slips and trips.
"We've also had to scheduled more operation slots to deal with minor surgery, but we are always prepared for situations like these."
South Tyneside Council switchboard has been swamped by more than 500 calls from residents saying they were unable to leave their homes, or drive on roads, due to ice.
And despite more than 1,000 tonnes of salt being spread, many people have been injured due to gritting machines being unable to go out once the ice has formed.
A spokeswoman said: "Our teams are doing all they can in these difficult conditions to make sure the pavements are as clear as possible.
"We would urge people to take extra care and to look out for their elderly neighbours."
The council has a procedure which sees all main roads and bus routes gritted first, followed by town centre areas and car parks, a limited number of hills, and then housing estate roads.
However, residents in Luffness Drive, Cleadon Park, South Shields, say they were left frustrated as they tried to make their street safe.
One 50-year-old homeowner said: "I rang up the council numerous times, as the street was like an ice rink, but we were told because we live in a cul-de-sac we're not a priority.
"But the road is a turning point for many cars and more than a week later, they're still struggling to move. We even had one car crashing into a garden wall."
The North East Ambulance Service has reported one of its busiest Christmas ever with emergency calls, an increase of 5.8 per cent on last year.
From Tuesday, December 22, to Saturday, December 26 the control room received reports of 5,293 incidents within the region.
But their busiest day for the borough, which falls into the south of Tyne catchment – and also included Gateshead and Sunderland – was on Boxing Day, where 297 people needed treatment.
In a bid to try and combat the ice many people took to the streets with their own methods.
Asda South Shields in Coronation Street sold out of all its brands of salt last week.
Although most roads are now clear, the Met Office has forecasted more bad weather in time for New Year celebrations.
Snow showers are expected for later today and tomorrow, while temperatures will plummet to -5C over the weekend.
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
