The impact of sports injuries in winter on medical services.

2529 injured sportsmen were treated at the Hutt and Wellington accident and emergency departments from 1 April to 31 August 1972. Almost two-thirds (62 percent) of these injuries were sustained during Saturday games, but only one-third (36.7 percent) of those injured presented on Saturdays. In view of the necessity to x-ray 75 percent, refer 18 percent to other hospital departments and admit 7.6 percent to hospital, a sports medicine clinic is suggested within the hospital complex. Such a clinic would ease the A and E work load and, at the same time, provide improved treatment for injured sportsmen.