First foots at Ninewells Hospital got a little too much in to the spirit of the New Year.
Many of the visitors to the hospital’s accident and emergency department on Hogmanay and New Year’s Day had had far too much to drink.
Meanwhile, an accident and emergency specialist at the hospital said he and his colleagues are now hoping the flu bug doesn’t cause too many problems.
Consultant Michael Johnston said there had been a steady stream of patients arriving in accident and emergency over the holiday period but nothing exceptional for the time of year.
The improvement in the weather was thought to be a factor in there being no bad accidents over Hogmanay and New Year’s Day for the trauma team to deal with.
“We have had a lot of medical illnesses and alcohol-related problems,” he said. “The numbers of admissions and overall attendances for this time of year were not exceptional.”
Mr Johnston said the department was prepared for a flu onslaught but so far had not seen much of it.
“We have not had the upsurge in seriously ill flu attendances that has been seen in England,” he said. “Everybody is waiting for it because it is happening elsewhere. We are holding our breath a wee bit, hoping that it doesn’t materialise.”
But if a flu outbreak does hit Tayside, the accident and emergency department is primed to cope with it.
“We have got the experience from last year,” said Mr Johnston. “We have plans and procedures on the shelf we have taken down and dusted off and are ready to implement if necessary.”