A SENIOR doctor has said serious road crash injuries are costing the NHS up to £100,000 a patient.

Consultant Andrew Simpson gave the figure as he backed a campaign on Teesside to persuade drivers to drop their speed.

Dr Simpson, head of Accident and Emergency at the University Hospital at Hartlepool, said speeding leads to serious injury and deaths and costs the NHS in treatment.

Cleveland Police and local councils have launched a new phase of their speed camera-backed campaign.

The cameras are proving successful, already having contributed to a 17 per cent drop in fatalities and a 44 per cent reduction in injuries.

In a bid to dispel myths that the cameras are only an easy money-earner, the Cleveland Safety Camera Partnership launched a website listing the location of every camera in use.

Dr Simpson said: "What safety cameras do to help a local hospital is straight-forward. Every serious injury can cost a hospital up to £100,000.''

That figure is made up from the cost of in-patient care, theatre procedures, treatment, X-rays, neuro surgery and follow-up therapy.

Dr Simpson said: "The cameras reduce the speed at which people drive. With reduced speeds, drivers are less likely to hit pedestrians or collide with another vehicle.

"Fewer collisions equate to fewer people coming through Accident and Emergency which, in turn, frees up more of our resources. Up to 25 staff can be involved in a casualty with a head injury and a broken femur, for example.

"Fewer casualties reduce waiting times.''

Partnership spokesman Mike Bennett said: "It makes sense to slow down and we are delighted that medical staff are adding support to the campaign."