During the Christmas holidays, a very large influx of patients was recorded at the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RECUH), reported the head of the clinic, Alexey Vishnyakov, to the LETA agency.
In just five days, 1,092 patients were admitted to the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RECUH), which is about 30% more than usual during the holiday period, explained Vishnyakov. In most cases, patients sought help on their own.
Vishnyakov attributes the large influx of patients to several reasons.
First, this season, people are significantly more likely to suffer from respiratory viral infections, which has increased the demand for sick leave among those who have to work during the holidays but cannot obtain such documents from family doctors during the holiday period.
Second, a familiar and serious problem associated with longer holiday periods is the sudden shortage of medications for patients who need to take medications regularly, such as for treating high blood pressure, diabetes, or for pain relief.
In cases where such medications unexpectedly run out for patients, the Emergency Medical Service is called. If patients do not take the necessary medications for several days, their condition often worsens, resulting in the need for emergency assistance at the hospital, noted Vishnyakov.
There is good news as well. This year, compared to the usual period, fewer injuries and accidents were recorded. The specialist attributes this to the weather conditions and the storm, which likely encouraged residents to refrain from going out.
In the emergency room, 221 patients sought help over five days, and no severe polytraumas were recorded, so from the perspective of trauma, the Christmas holidays were calm, he assessed.
