Delays at flu-hit hospitals
By LOUISE TRECCASI
05jun06
THE flu and winter onslaught is starting to result in cancellation of some elective surgery to free up hospital beds.
Four cases of elective surgery had to be cancelled in the past week - two at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and two at Flinders Medical Centre.
A spokesman for the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, which covers the Royal Adelaide, Modbury, Queen Elizabeth and Lyell McEwin hospitals, said both surgeries were rescheduled to take place in the next fortnight.
He said the four hospitals were "all hovering at 100 per cent capacity".
Flinders Medical Centre said two elective surgeries were postponed in the past week to free up beds.
Ashford Hospital, which yesterday was running at 80 per cent capacity, said its elective surgery schedule would go ahead as planned. Last month, the SA Ambulance Service had its busiest day on record, transporting 376 patients to hospital emergency departments.
Health Minister John Hill said the increase in patient numbers could lead to non-urgent treatments having to wait longer. He could not rule out elective surgery being delayed.
The State Government has set up a Winter Demand Strategy Group chaired by the Health Department's David Panter to manage the onslaught on the public health system.
Mr Panter said strategies included more hospital beds, looking at the types of elective surgery that may need to be cancelled and transferring patients to a lower care facility.
The Australian Medical Association has warned all South Australians to "prepare for the worst" as this year's flu season adds extra strain on the health system.
By LOUISE TRECCASI
05jun06
THE flu and winter onslaught is starting to result in cancellation of some elective surgery to free up hospital beds.
Four cases of elective surgery had to be cancelled in the past week - two at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and two at Flinders Medical Centre.
A spokesman for the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, which covers the Royal Adelaide, Modbury, Queen Elizabeth and Lyell McEwin hospitals, said both surgeries were rescheduled to take place in the next fortnight.
He said the four hospitals were "all hovering at 100 per cent capacity".
Flinders Medical Centre said two elective surgeries were postponed in the past week to free up beds.
Ashford Hospital, which yesterday was running at 80 per cent capacity, said its elective surgery schedule would go ahead as planned. Last month, the SA Ambulance Service had its busiest day on record, transporting 376 patients to hospital emergency departments.
Health Minister John Hill said the increase in patient numbers could lead to non-urgent treatments having to wait longer. He could not rule out elective surgery being delayed.
The State Government has set up a Winter Demand Strategy Group chaired by the Health Department's David Panter to manage the onslaught on the public health system.
Mr Panter said strategies included more hospital beds, looking at the types of elective surgery that may need to be cancelled and transferring patients to a lower care facility.
The Australian Medical Association has warned all South Australians to "prepare for the worst" as this year's flu season adds extra strain on the health system.