Winter ills have EDs struggling
Respiratory illnesses are hitting the health system in NelsonMarlborough as Covid cases are rising again in the region.
The surge in winter bugs is putting pressure on hospital emergency departments in Te Tauihu (the top of the south), and prompting pleas for people to keep wearing masks and protecting vulnerable populations – and to keep EDs free for emergencies.
But while Covid cases are rising again, other respiratory illnesses, particularly influenza, are also affecting the system.
‘‘We’re in the thick of it in winter, and vigilance is required – do the best to protect yourself and others,’’ said the region’s chief medical officer, Dr Nick Baker.
There were 30 to 40 presentations to hospital with respiratory illnesses each week throughout the region, as opposed to a normal five to eight. Only about a third of those were Covid, with flu also putting pressure on the system, Baker said.
‘‘Some days, it’s absolutely bursting at the seams.’’
The surge in patients was ‘‘undulating’’, with some days calmer than others, he said,
Yesterday morning, hospitals in Nelson-Marlborough were having a fairly manageable day. First thing in the morning, there were about five people in the Nelson ED, which meant there had been a good flow of patients overnight, Baker said. But the situation was changing daily – on Monday, there were 27 patients.
By about 11.30am yesterday, there were 10 people in the ED at Nelson Hospital, and eight at Marlborough’s Wairau Hospital, which Baker said were ‘‘manageable workloads’’. ‘‘Our biggest concern is when we can’t move people on from ED, and then it’s very hard to take people in, and we were reaching that point yesterday.’’
Baker urged people to make sure they were using emergency departments for urgent needs only. Recently, an ED had a case of someone coming in to get a medical certificate for work, he said. ‘‘That’s not an appropriate use of our services.’’ Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases are increasing again in Nelson
Marlborough, with 335 reported yesterday. The seven-day rolling average in Te Tauihu had dropped to about 200 in June, but was now up around 300 again – and the need for people to test and report results meant the real number was likely to be much higher, Baker said.
For all respiratory illnesses, the bulk of the cases were among the older population, and illness circulating in aged care facilities, Baker said.
It made the messages of not sharing bugs, maintaining hand hygiene and wearing masks all the more important, he said. ‘‘Just assume everyone around you is infectious.’’