A spike in flu cases is causing waiting times to blow out in the region’s hospital emergency departments, and it could have been prevented claims Wollongong MP Paul Scully.
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NSW Health figures show there were 1685 confirmed flu cases across the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) from January to August 16, 2017 – already surpassing the 1253 cases for the whole of 2016.
Mr Scully said this represented a 34 per cent increase in cases which was putting pressure on the health system, especially already over-stretched EDs.
The majority of cases were influenza type A (1244 cases), followed by type B (441).
And the worst may be yet to come, with August and September traditionally the worst months for flu. For instance in the ISLHD, there were 52 cases this June; 640 cases in July and 790 cases and rising for August – a total of 1482 so far for the three months.
That’s more than double the figures for the same quarter in 2016, with 20 cases last June; 138 in July and 513 for the entire month of August.
Mr Scully said the state government should have planned an education campaign, as well as proper rostering in hospitals to prevent delays in EDs and ambulance ‘bed block’.
‘’The government could have launched a major flu vaccination campaign in May to encourage people to get their flu shots before the onslaught of the peak flu season in August,’’ he said.
‘’Our hospital emergency departments and our professional doctors and nurses are now swamped by an increase in flu cases in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, which is causing increased waiting times in the ED.
‘’The severity of the current flu is also impacting on workplaces and schools, so some better preparation of the public, by the government, would have helped immensely.”
The same is true of hospital EDs across the state which are at ‘’breaking point’’ according to Labor’s health spokesman Walt Secord.
He said nationally it was the worst flu season in 15 years with 71,256 confirmed cases, with almost half of those (35,727) in NSW.
‘’The flu season is smashing NSW emergency departments and it is only going to get worse,’’ Mr Secord said.
“Due to the state government’s failure to properly prepare, the additional flu patients in emergency departments mean other patients have to wait longer.
“The health and hospital system is already at breaking point. It is under enormous pressure.’’
Latest figures show there were more than 460 presentations for respiratory illness, fever and infections at emergency departments across the ISLHD for the week ending August 6.
NSW Health director communicable diseases Dr Vicky Sheppeard said people with flu symptoms should take extra care to avoid spreading their infection to family and friends who may be at greater risk of a severe influenza infection.
‘’Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, disposing of used tissues and washing hands thoroughly and often are simple precautions people can take from spreading flu,’’ Dr Sheppeard said.
‘’We are seeing high levels of both influenza A and B strains circulating in the community, which places vulnerable people at high risk of catching the influenza and developing severe complications.’’
Dr Sheppeard said people with flu symptoms should also avoid going out unless it was to see their doctor, and they should stay away from school and work until they have fully recovered.
‘’It is also important to remember that it’s not too late to vaccinate. Winter will be here for another month and we usually see influenza activity continue into September.’’
NSW was managing the surge in activity, and during peak times was encouraging people to seek advice from their GPs and HealthDirect, a 24 hour helpline on 1800 022 222.