Ice warnings and flu surge keep Groningen, Drenthe, Friesland hospitals busy in January

Hospitals in Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland have seen a hectic start to January. Between January 1 and 29, the KNMI issued ice warnings on 21 days across the three northern provinces.

Many patients were treated in hospitals after sustaining wrist fractures, hip fractures, and head injuries caused by ongoing icy conditions. “The emergency department was extremely busy,” said a spokesperson for Treant hospitals in Emmen, Stadskanaal, and Hoogeveen, “and this also created heavy demand in radiology and the operating theaters.”

Staff at Groningen’s Martini Hospital report that hidden ice leads to more injuries than obvious snowfall. “When it’s difficult to tell whether surfaces are slippery, we see a lot of fractures,” a spokesperson said.

In mid-January, Groningen experienced “harsh winter weather” with heavy snowfall. Surprisingly, the emergency department treated fewer ice-related injuries when the ground was snow-covered than on days when it appeared clear.

The emergency department saw another surge in patients over the weekend, the spokesperson said. “This meant some waiting times, but the mood stayed positive: patients were patient, and there were no incidents of aggression. I’d like to commend them for that.”

The spokesperson said that no extra preparations were needed at the Martini Hospital for the high number of patients. “We are always equipped to treat a large number of patients,” she said. “The emergency department runs like a well-oiled machine, and the staff handles busy periods very efficiently.”

Frisius MC, which has campuses in Heerenveen and Leeuwarden, saw a hectic January as well. A spokesperson said the busy period wasn’t directly caused by icy conditions, pointing out that the KNMI’s yellow and orange warnings encouraged people to be careful. Still, the hospitals were busier than normal due to flu outbreaks and a high number of older patients getting sick.