Health chiefs are expecting to tackle a mass "production line" of injuries as brawls break out on the dawn of the new Millennium.

Plans are being drawn up to open impromptu minor injury 'clinics' at community hospitals, health centres and GPs' surgeries throughout Oxfordshire to cope with the extra patients.

The John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, is still working out how many staff will be needed on the night - but the Oxfordshire Health Authority is bracing itself for an overtime bill of £500,000.

Non-urgent surgery, like hip operations, will be postponed between December 20 and January 3, 2000, as the hospital prepares to treat about four times as many patients as normal.

Nurses are preparing to deal with a spate of injuries such as embedded glass splinters from punch-ups.

Health authority deputy director of finance Margaret Norgett said: "It will present different problems at a time of year when traditionally our Accident and Emergency department is stretched to the limit.

"This year we had a bit of flu and a few parties. Next year we could have a lot of flu and there will be a lot of parties.

"It will be like a production line of injuries."

Midwives at the John Radcliffe Maternity Hospital are also gearing up for the dozens of mothers they expect to plan to give birth on New Year's Day.

The health authority has now solved almost all of the possible computer problems set by the Millennium bug.

Systems have been upgraded at a cost of around £1m as part of a project entitled The Year 2000 Problem.

There are also plans in place to ensure water is supplied to the hospital in case systems fail.

Story date: Tuesday 09 February

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