SLIPS, trips and falls admissions at Great Western Hospital are up this week as the ice claims its first victims.

The hospital’s Accident and Emergency department sees between 180 and 200 admissions on average each day but since the chill hit Swindon at the weekend, admissions to A&E have gone up by about 30 per day.

On Sunday 26 people were admitted after ice-related slips and falls with many patients suffering from ankle and wrist fractures and dislocated joints.

Teri Stevans, of Great Western Hospital, said: “Many people needed to have bones reset, we had patients with dislocated shoulders and many with wrist fractures where they had tried to break their fall, so it is fair to say A&E has been busier in recent days.”

Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is now appealing to Swindon residents to look out for elderly neighbours during the cold snap.

“It’s very important that people take care as the weather gets colder,” said Miss Stevans.

“This time of year we do see a rise in fractures because of falls on the ice and where those slips can be dangerous for most they can be even more damaging for the elderly and frail.

“We would ask that everyone ensures that paths and driveways are well salted and if they have elderly or vulnerable neighbours they can do the same for them.”

But falls are not the only thing that sees a rise in hospital admissions at this time of year.

The hospital is also urging people to wrap up warm in and keep their homes at the right temperature – between 18 and 21 degrees centigrade or 64 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit .

Dr Gabriel Scally, regional director of Public Health at the South West Strategic Health Authority, said: “Make sure you contact friends, relatives and neighbours who may be more vulnerable to cold weather.

“Older people and those with heart or respiratory problems may have worse symptoms during a cold spell and for a few days after temperatures return to normal so check up on them if you can.

“It is essential to keep your home at the right temperature and if it’s difficult to heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom before you go to bed.”

David Sparks, of the Local Government Association, defended councils saying gritters had been hampered by a “perfect storm” in some areas but stressed councils were doing all they could.

He said: “Accusations that councils were ill-prepared and have been withholding salt from where it is needed are unverified, unsubstantiated and unjustified.

“Councils have access to enough salt to deal with the severe weather and will be doing all they can to make sure people are able to complete their journey and get home for Christmas.”

The M4 second Severn crossing was closed for three hours yesterday because of ice falling from overhead cables and gantries.

Meanwhile, after three days of cancellations, the first Eurostar pulled out of St Pancras station in London yesterday.

Mary and Clive Holbrook with nine-month-old daughter Bella, from Freshbrook, were among those caught up in the chaos.

They were in France for a four-day break visiting friends before the drama unfolded on Saturday night when they were told the Eurostar service to London was cancelled.

They were forced to spend days in the Paris Gare du Nord station with thousands of other disgruntled passengers, all hoping to make it home in time for Christmas.