NEARLY 200 people were presented to the Roma Hospital emergency department during the last Christmas holidays, including three alcohol-related admissions.

The South-West Hospital and Health Service is warning people to play it safe between December 24 and January 1, with their top doctor citing a huge spike in admissions to emergency departments.

Director of Medical Services Dr Tom Gibson said common sense was needed during the holidays.

"Traditionally, the Christmas and New Year periods can be very busy periods in any emergency department and last year's holiday period was particularly busy," Dr Gibson said.

"We don't want to see a similar increase during this coming festive season.

"In particular, we tend to see a noticeable increase in alcohol-related attendances - either in terms of people presenting intoxicated or with injuries resulting from alcohol-related behaviour such as drink-driving, fights, assaults, falls and other accidents."

A total of 606 people presented to the south-west's four main emergency departments at Roma, Charleville, St George and Cunnamulla hospitals between December 24, 2014 and January 1, 2015 inclusive - an increase from the same period the previous year.

"We would ask people to consider the consequences of their actions and just try to be a little more careful," Dr Gibson said.