Trauma rise a concern as holidays beckon

The Alfred’s director of trauma services, Professor Mark Fitzgerald has described the shift as concerning, and is urging motorists and pedestrians to stay safe this festive season.

“Everyone reduced their ­activity a lot in lockdown and now people are out and about and trying to get everything back in order, as they prepare for holidays and social events,” Professor Fitzgerald said.

In recent weeks more than one quarter of The Alfred’s trauma arrivals have been ‘major trauma’ patients – those who are critically unwell on arrival and require urgent life-saving care.

An average of 33 patients are being admitted to the hospital every week from road accidents alone.

“There’s a lot more road trauma coming in and we do have a lot of two-wheeler injuries whether they are motorcycles, motorised bicycles or electric scooters. That has increased serious injuries.

Professor Fitzgerald said it was understandable that after a long lockdown people wanted to get back out on the road, but said simple acts of vigilance could prevent a lengthy hospital stay.

“The main message is to be careful and try to stay out of traffic,” Professor Fitzgerald said. “We’re just asking people to be patient and respect that there’s more traffic on the road.”