More beds have been opened up on Wollongong Hospital wards this winter to cope with a massive spike in flu, according to the region’s health chief.
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Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District chief executive Margot Mains said there had been a 12 per cent increase in presentations to the hospital’s emergency department over June, July and August – compared to the same months in 2016.
She said while the hospital had a total of 361 inpatient beds, there were also a number of ‘’over-census beds’’ which could be opened during periods of high demand.
‘’As part of our preparation for winter at Wollongong Hospital, additional bed capacity was created within a number existing wards in place of a specific ‘winter ward’,’’ Ms Mains said.
‘’This was done following a realignment of wards after the completion of the $106 million hospital expansion, which included new ward spaces.’’
This week Wollongong MP Paul Scully and Labor’s health spokesman Walt Secord demanded Health Minister Brad Hazzard instigate an independent investigation into the hospital, which they claimed was buckling under the pressure of the horror flu season.
Mr Scully said he had been inundated by residents and staff concerned about staff shortages and ‘bed block’ during the busy season.
There’s been 4146 flu notifications throughout the health district so far this year, compared to 1253 for the whole of 2016.
Ms Mains said she was ‘’hugely proud’’ of the way staff had responded to the unprecedented demand.
‘’The hospital is currently experiencing higher than average presentations. Despite this, our ED staff are continuing to triage patients within clinical guidelines,’’ she said.
Ms Mains said the hospital worked closely with paramedics to ensure patients were transferred quickly.
‘’The most seriously ill patients are always the priority and are triaged accordingly,’’ she said. ‘’This means that those with less serious conditions may have to wait.’’
Ms Mains said the winter period was always challenging, and the health district spent significant time and resources to prepare for it.
‘’This year, a massive spike in influenza in communities throughout Australia, coupled with increased gastro presentations, has created additional demand on health services,’’ she said.
‘’During this time our staff have done an amazing job managing access and flow within the ED and hospital wards, which includes following escalation procedures during times of high demand.’’
Staff too had fallen ill, and Ms Mains thanked other staff for the way they had ‘’stepped up in support of their colleagues and services’’ over the period.