Swine flu: The 'perfect storm' as flu victims soar, winter vomiting bug spreads, more elderly fall ill... so how will hospitals cope?

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Swine flu: The 'perfect storm' as flu victims soar, winter vomiting bug spreads, more elderly fall ill... so how will hospitals cope?
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By Jenny Hope and Sophie Borland
Last updated at 9:24 AM on 29th December 2010

A ?perfect storm? of winter illness will batter Britain?s health services today.

Hospitals will be pushed to breaking point by a post-Christmas deluge of patients suffering from flu and the winter vomiting bug.

Accident and emergency departments are bracing themselves for a surge of referrals as GP practices open for the first time after the extended bank holiday weekend.

They are also expecting high numbers of elderly patients to be brought in as they are visited by care workers for the first time in four days.

Soaring levels of both seasonal and swine flu will heap extra strain on hospitals already dealing with cases of the sickness bug norovirus, which usually peak at this time of year.

It is feared many potentially seriously ill patients will have waited until after the four-day weekend to see their doctor, pushing services to the limit.
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But as the virus continued to sweep the country yesterday, an expert warned that Britain is on the ?cusp? of an epidemic...

Full text: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...g-spreads-elderly-fall-ill.html#ixzz19W8TSUvk

 

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Re: Swine flu: The 'perfect storm' as flu victims soar, winter vomiting bug spreads, more elderly fall ill... so how will hospitals cope?

Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside bans visitors

Published: 29th Dec 2010 16:34:26

A hospital on Merseyside has suspended visiting until further notice to try to reduce the risk of patients and staff catching colds or flu.

The visiting ban at Arrowe Park Hospital in Birkenhead, Wirral, came into effect at 1600 GMT.

Critically ill patients may be allowed visitors, at the discretion of the ward manager.

There are also restrictions at the Wirral Women and Children's Hospital, on the same site.

People wanting to visit relatives there should call wards to check their position.

Read more:
http://www.manchesterwired.co.uk/news.php/118677-Arrowe-Park-Hospital-on-Merseyside-bans-visitors

 

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Re: Swine flu: The 'perfect storm' as flu victims soar, winter vomiting bug spreads, more elderly fall ill... so how will hospitals cope?

Cornwall hospitals' SOS to staff over flu admissions

Published: 31st Dec 2010 13:09:26

Staff at community hospitals around Cornwall are being asked to cut short their Christmas break and return to work due to an increase in admissions.

The appeal has been made to about 100 staff who work at nine hospitals.

Managers said the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro had had a rise in admissions and some patients had to now be discharged to local hospitals.

Read more:
http://www.ukwirednews.com/news.php/119094-Cornwall-hospitals-SOS-to-staff-over-flu-admissions