Sally Furniss
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Taranaki hospitals resist restrictions
By LYN HUMPHREYS - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 23/07/2009
Pregnancy adds to worry of flu Australia starts swine flu vaccine trials Schools may close as flu deaths reach 700 Swine flu vaccine trial under way Swine flu claims Kiwi child Swine flu kills unborn child Flu centres open in Canterbury Seniors coping better with flu Economy wards off swine flu Flu vaccine scramble could get ugly
Taranaki's public hospitals remain open to visitors despite the onslaught of swine flu and regular winter ills causing others around the country to restrict entry.
Hastings Hospital has asked that no visitors come to the hospital outside visiting hours.
A spokeswoman said the hospital was also enforcing a rule of only two visitors per patient, "Because we want to limit the spread of infection through the hospital," she said.
And the hospital's maternity unit is locking down its main entrance from 4pm to 7am as it looks to protect the health of expectant mothers, new mothers and their newborn babies.
In Taranaki, hospital services manager Steve Berendsen said there were no patients in Taranaki Base with flu-like symptoms.
But anyone who was unwell was asked not to visit.
To date, there have been 21 confirmed cases of H1N1 virus in Taranaki.
Taranaki public health authorities said it was accepted there would be many more cases of swine flu because people with flu were no longer undergoing mandatory testing.
It is yet to be determined whether the death of one Taranaki male, who was found to have the virus, was in part due to swine flu. The death has been reported to the coroner.
New Zealand's health services continue to feel the pressure from both seasonal and non-seasonal influenza this winter, but are coping well, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.
"Some hospitals are postponing elective surgery and are at full capacity in their Intensive Care Units but advise us they remain able to provide a quality health service.
"Latest data from ESR's GP sentinel surveillance system shows a sharp spike in the number of consultations for influenza-like illnesses.
"What this surveillance data shows us is that we have not yet reached a peak in the number of people who will experience influenza this year.
"We anticipate that our health services will continue to be under pressure for some time yet," Mr Ryall said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-dai...664965/Taranaki-hospitals-resist-restrictions
By LYN HUMPHREYS - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 23/07/2009
Pregnancy adds to worry of flu Australia starts swine flu vaccine trials Schools may close as flu deaths reach 700 Swine flu vaccine trial under way Swine flu claims Kiwi child Swine flu kills unborn child Flu centres open in Canterbury Seniors coping better with flu Economy wards off swine flu Flu vaccine scramble could get ugly
Taranaki's public hospitals remain open to visitors despite the onslaught of swine flu and regular winter ills causing others around the country to restrict entry.
Hastings Hospital has asked that no visitors come to the hospital outside visiting hours.
A spokeswoman said the hospital was also enforcing a rule of only two visitors per patient, "Because we want to limit the spread of infection through the hospital," she said.
And the hospital's maternity unit is locking down its main entrance from 4pm to 7am as it looks to protect the health of expectant mothers, new mothers and their newborn babies.
In Taranaki, hospital services manager Steve Berendsen said there were no patients in Taranaki Base with flu-like symptoms.
But anyone who was unwell was asked not to visit.
To date, there have been 21 confirmed cases of H1N1 virus in Taranaki.
Taranaki public health authorities said it was accepted there would be many more cases of swine flu because people with flu were no longer undergoing mandatory testing.
It is yet to be determined whether the death of one Taranaki male, who was found to have the virus, was in part due to swine flu. The death has been reported to the coroner.
New Zealand's health services continue to feel the pressure from both seasonal and non-seasonal influenza this winter, but are coping well, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.
"Some hospitals are postponing elective surgery and are at full capacity in their Intensive Care Units but advise us they remain able to provide a quality health service.
"Latest data from ESR's GP sentinel surveillance system shows a sharp spike in the number of consultations for influenza-like illnesses.
"What this surveillance data shows us is that we have not yet reached a peak in the number of people who will experience influenza this year.
"We anticipate that our health services will continue to be under pressure for some time yet," Mr Ryall said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-dai...664965/Taranaki-hospitals-resist-restrictions