Surgery cancelled as flu hits Royal
Posted
Ambulances are waiting for up to two hours. (ABC News)
An outbreak of influenza in southern Tasmania has spread to the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Queueing of ambulances with patients outside the emergency department and the cancellation of elective surgery is expected to continue today.
The hospital says with 29 staff off sick and growing influx of patients it has had no choice but to cancel elective surgeries.
Patients presenting to the emergency department are warned to expect delays, with ambulances waiting for up to two hours.
The hospital's Acting CEO Tony Bell says it is a crisis common at this time of year, and little can be done to relieve the pressure.
"We will try to get back to normal as soon as possible," Dr Bell said.
Professor Bell says the hospital's day surgery is still operating as normal.
The hospital hopes the pressure may ease by tomorrow and has urged anyone with flu or gastro symptoms not to visit patients.
There are now 65 confirmed cases of influenza A and B across the state.
