Fall injuries up in icy weather, says NHS trust

A hospital trust says it has seen an increase in fall-related injuries during the icy weather.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said it would expect to see one to two people with fractured hips per day at this time of year, but it had seen "triple that number" in the past week.

The trust warned its hospitals, including the Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumberland Hospital, were "extremely busy" and encouraged people to check on their vulnerable neighbours until conditions improved.

A yellow weather warning for ice has been put in place for most of England and Wales from 00:00 GMT to 10:00 on Wednesday.

The trust said it was also seeing people with respiratory issues flared up by the cold conditions.

A spokesperson said: "Our teams are working hard to prioritise those with the most urgent needs.

"If you are not seriously unwell, please be aware that you may experience a lengthy wait in our A&E departments."

Keswick Urgent Treatment Centre has been temporarily closed due to staff shortages, the trust said, but the Penrith centre is open as normal.

The drop in temperatures had triggered cold weather payments for hundreds of thousands of households, designed to help elderly and vulnerable people with heating costs, the government said.

Eligible households automatically receive £25 when temperatures are recorded or forecast to be 0C (32F) or below over seven consecutive days.

It has been triggered twice for households in parts of Cumbria, including Penrith, and Northumberland, which stand to receive a £50 pay-out.

There were warnings of a risk to drivers as rain forecasted in the afternoon could turn to ice in the freezing temperatures.

Forecasters suggested temperatures could get to -1C (30F) in the area on Wednesday.

Karl Melville, the assistant director of highways and transport at Cumberland Council, said: "If it does [rain] then that causes problems for tonight."

A number of exposed routes on fell roads have been closed since 30 December, due to the winter conditions.

These included Cold Fell, Corney Fell, Hardknott Pass, Honister Pass and Newlands Pass.

Melville said the council was monitoring the roads closely.

Meanwhile, rail replacement services around the Bransty tunnel on the Cumbrian Coast Line were temporarily suspended in the morning due to the "severe weather", Northern said.

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