Hospitals ‘pushed to limit’ as cases surge

Hospitals have been ‘pushed to limit’ as Delta strain case numbers surge with nurses and doctors ‘really stretched’ and no end in sight.

EXCLUSIVE

Hospital staff are being “pushed to limit” in the latest surge of Delta strain cases across NSW, say nurse and doctor groups who don’t know how the already “really stretched” health system will cope if cases continue to rise.

They described the future as “uncertain” if numbers increase across the state but refused to speculate whether sufficient staff could be maintained throughout the state’s hospitals.

Their concerns were raised as NSW recorded a high of 681 new daily Covid-19 cases, with predictions of the rise continuing in coming days.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association and the Australian Medical Association have told news.com.au the current Covid caseload is a “huge strain” on health personnel in NSW hospitals.

“Our members are pushed to they limit already and I don’t know how much more can be done,” Nurses and Midwives Assistant General Secretary Shaye Candish said.

“Particularly out in regional areas where they cannot transfer people like it can be done between city hospitals.

“In places like Dubbo, they don't have the same ability to do so as you see in Sydney.

“I don’t want to speculate how much worse it will get.”

The Association has 73,000 nurses and midwives in NSW who Ms Candish said “notoriously work until they can’t work any more, but at the moment it’s a challenge”.

“The biggest challenge is managing the volume of Covid-positive patients while there are also normal (non-Covid) cases.

Nurse and doctor groups say the current Delta strain surge is pushing hospital staff ‘to the limit’. Picture: Kate Geraghty

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announces the latest grim total of 681 new daily cases. Picture: Christian Gilles/NCA NewsWire

“Whether it was whole floors dedicated to Covid patients or multiple Covid wards within the one hospital.

“Our members are reporting in some of these LGAs (of concern) … they are under some level of strain.

AMA NSW President Danielle McMullen said, “We have been saying for more than a week now that the hospital system is under strain.

“Particularly with over 1000 workers self-isolating in the community or at work.

“And that’s putting strain on the hospitals’ ability to provide Covid care, non-Covid care and vaccine clinics.

“The NSW health system is really stretched.”

Dr McMullen said the decision to reduce or halt elective surgery in hospitals would free up beds and the health workforce.

But doctors were grappling with the question of how long the current surge would continue.

“How long will it last? We don’t know.”

Dr McMullen said doctors and health professionals were relying on getting Covid infection numbers “turned around” to relieve “the statewide pressure” on the hospital system.

“We will always try to provide urgent care for Covid and non-Covid,” she said.

“We are remaining open and will do everything we possibly can.

“But it gets harder every day with the more cases we see.”

The decision this week to cancel or reduce elective surgery in NSW hospitals is part of a Covid crisis plan to increase bed capacity.

Hospitals run on average at around 60 per cent to 70 per cent capacity, but generally around 80 to 90 per cent for acute cases in intensive care.

Because each operating theatre has a ventilator and specialised anaesthetic staff, cancelling elective surgery creates ICU surge beds.