Do your part to aid ED
Hospital urges action to halt spread of flu
FAR North Queenslanders are urged to help reduce pressure on Cairns Hospital by preventing influenza from spreading across the region.
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service yesterday deactivated its “Code Yellow”, after its resources were stretched to the limit late last week.
The health service had cited an influx of flu and sickness cases, during the traditionally hectic time of the year for the hospital’s emergency department.
Figures obtained from CHHHS show 39 admissions to the hospital with lab-confirmed flu at August 6.
Last year, there were 71 cases for the health district, compared to 40 during 2016, and only 18 in 2015.
Cairns Tropical Public Health Services director Dr Richard Gair encouraged Far North Queenslanders to help ease the strain on the hospital by taking precautions against flu. “There’s basic hygiene steps that people can take, through social distancing,” he said.
“If people are unwell, they should avoid coughing or sneezing over other people.
“They should stay away from work or school.
“You should also wash your hands, cover your nose or mouth if coughing or sneezing, and get vaccinated.”
The influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone from six months of age, but is available for free for people who face a high risk from flu and its complications.
This includes: people 65 years and older; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged six months to less than five years, and 15 years and older; pregnant women; people six months and older with medical conditions increasing risk of complications from flu.
Dr Gair said preventing flu from spreading would also reduce the amount of people potentially admitted to hospital due to complications from contracting the disease.
CHHHS Cairns services executive director Tina Chinery praised staff in the hospital’s ED, the Queensland Ambulance Service, and rural hospitals for enduring the busy few days for the health service.
“The safety of our patients and staff is always our priority, and the exceptional efforts of our staff is a testament to this,” she said.
This had been the second Code Yellow for the hospital this year, after an overload of patients was experienced in March.
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