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Hospital braces for influx of flu patients
By KIM THOMAS and BECK ELEVEN - The Press
DAVID HALLETT/The Press
GETTING READY: Dr Mick Ozimek and nurse Kelly Maw prepare to meet patients.
Christchurch
Christchurch Hospital is setting aside more than 20 emergency beds and an isolation ward for swine flu victims.
Canterbury health officials said yesterday they were no longer able to contain the spread of the disease and had upgraded their pandemic plans to manage it in the community.
People will no longer be tested at airports, quarantined or given Tamiflu.
Only the most serious cases will get medication, and others who suspect they have the virus will need to take care of themselves at home.
A large flu centre has been opened in central Christchurch to deal with suspected victims referred by their general practitioner.
Health Minister Tony Ryall said yesterday he would increase the pandemic level from containment to management on Monday to reflect the spread of the disease.
Canterbury and Wellington, where one person is critically ill in hospital with swine flu, moved to change the pandemic level earlier because there have more cases than in other regions.
There were 59 confirmed cases in Canterbury yesterday, with another 20 people suspected of having the virus.
The total number of confirmed cases nationwide reached 216 yesterday up 63 from the day before while another 18 cases were considered "probable" and 643 people were suspected to have the virus.
Christchurch Hospital acting general manager Ruth Barclay said six rooms in the emergency department had been set aside for swine flu patients. The hospital could extend the number of emergency beds by 18 if required.
Seven people had been admitted with swine flu, most with mild or moderate forms of the virus, she said. They included three children and a women who had given birth.
Only two of the patients remained in hospital yesterday.
Barclay said a separate hospital ward was available for patients with a combination of swine flu and other medical conditions.
Yesterday, public health officials opened a 2300 square metre swine flu centre in central Christchurch to cope with the growing number of cases.
The converted warehouse in St Asaph St, near the hospital, replaces two suburban screening centres.
It is not a drop-in centre, and sick people should call the newly created 0800373037 for advice and a referral.
Canterbury Primary Pandemic Group co-ordinator Phil Schroeder said the new clinic showed how seriously Canterbury District Health Board was taking the illness.
He said people could limit the impact of the pandemic by first turning to family, friends or neighbours for support, and using the 0800 number for advice or a referral to the flu centre for more serious cases.
The onset of swine flu was typically rapid, with people becoming unwell sometimes within an hour, he said.
The virus could live on surfaces for up 48 hours.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/ne...25/Hospital-braces-for-influx-of-flu-patients
By KIM THOMAS and BECK ELEVEN - The Press
GETTING READY: Dr Mick Ozimek and nurse Kelly Maw prepare to meet patients.
Christchurch
Christchurch Hospital is setting aside more than 20 emergency beds and an isolation ward for swine flu victims.
Canterbury health officials said yesterday they were no longer able to contain the spread of the disease and had upgraded their pandemic plans to manage it in the community.
People will no longer be tested at airports, quarantined or given Tamiflu.
Only the most serious cases will get medication, and others who suspect they have the virus will need to take care of themselves at home.
A large flu centre has been opened in central Christchurch to deal with suspected victims referred by their general practitioner.
Health Minister Tony Ryall said yesterday he would increase the pandemic level from containment to management on Monday to reflect the spread of the disease.
Canterbury and Wellington, where one person is critically ill in hospital with swine flu, moved to change the pandemic level earlier because there have more cases than in other regions.
There were 59 confirmed cases in Canterbury yesterday, with another 20 people suspected of having the virus.
The total number of confirmed cases nationwide reached 216 yesterday up 63 from the day before while another 18 cases were considered "probable" and 643 people were suspected to have the virus.
Christchurch Hospital acting general manager Ruth Barclay said six rooms in the emergency department had been set aside for swine flu patients. The hospital could extend the number of emergency beds by 18 if required.
Seven people had been admitted with swine flu, most with mild or moderate forms of the virus, she said. They included three children and a women who had given birth.
Only two of the patients remained in hospital yesterday.
Barclay said a separate hospital ward was available for patients with a combination of swine flu and other medical conditions.
Yesterday, public health officials opened a 2300 square metre swine flu centre in central Christchurch to cope with the growing number of cases.
The converted warehouse in St Asaph St, near the hospital, replaces two suburban screening centres.
It is not a drop-in centre, and sick people should call the newly created 0800373037 for advice and a referral.
Canterbury Primary Pandemic Group co-ordinator Phil Schroeder said the new clinic showed how seriously Canterbury District Health Board was taking the illness.
He said people could limit the impact of the pandemic by first turning to family, friends or neighbours for support, and using the 0800 number for advice or a referral to the flu centre for more serious cases.
The onset of swine flu was typically rapid, with people becoming unwell sometimes within an hour, he said.
The virus could live on surfaces for up 48 hours.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/ne...25/Hospital-braces-for-influx-of-flu-patients
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