The Calvary Mater Hospital in Waratah has been revealed as an area of concern in the latest NSW Health Influenza Surveillance Report which also ranks the Hunter New England Health District with the third highest influenza notifications in the state.
Compared to June last year, hospitals across the state have seen influenza admissions rise by almost double which Shadow Minister for Health Walt Secord said is due to the unpreparedness of the NSW State Government.
"Every year we know the flu season is coming and again, the State Government has been caught off guard.
"They should have been out warning people and urging people to get vaccinated.
"In April I had my vaccinations and I have not missed a single day of work.
"Due to the failure to properly prepare, the additional flu patients in emergency departments mean other patients have to wait longer.
"The last thing NSW health and hospital system needs is to see hundreds of extra patients pouring into emergency departments with preventable flu symptoms," Mr Secord said.
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| Calvary Mater Hospital in Waratah. Source: ABC |
