Nearly half of Queensland’s current hospitalizations for COVID-19 are in regional parts of the state, new data from Queensland Health has revealed.
Key points:
- 427 of Queensland’s 907 COVID-19 hospitalizations are in regional parts of the state
- Seven of them are in intensive care, compared to six in the Brisbane area
- Queensland residents urged wearing a mask in public and ensuring vaccines are up to date
It comes when the Australian Medical Association warns that doctors in the regions are “exhausted” battling a pandemic winter wave and a strong flu season.
There were 907 patients in the hospital with COVID-19 at 7 a.m. yesterday, according to Queensland Health.
The figures showed that 427 of them were in regional hospitals and health services, including the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, while 391 were in Brisbane hospitals and health services.
The rest were in private hospitals across the state.
The Gold Coast had the highest number of regional hospitalizations with 97, followed by the Sunshine Coast with 61.
Outside the southeast corner, the highest number of hospitalizations occurred in the Wide Bay region, where 59 people were hospitalized, and Cairns, where 51 people were hospitalized.
There were also more patients in the intensive care units of the Queensland region, at seven, compared to six in Brisbane.
Health service
Hospitalizations
Intensive surveillance
Total deaths since 2020
Private
87
0
–
Cairns
51
1
76
Central Queensland
23
1
31
Center West
2
0
0
Child health
14
0
0
Darling Downs
48
2
74
Golden Coast
97
1
222
Mackay
25
0
34
Mater
44
1
0
Metro Nord
154
4
239
Metro Sud
139
0
391
northwest
6
1
3
Southwest
9
0
3
Costa del Sol
61
0
130
Torres and Cap
4
0
3
Townsville
42
0
42
West Moreton
40
1
76
Wide Bay
59
1
65
Regional total
427
7
683
Brisbane total
391
6
706
Surgeries can be rescheduled
Most health services confirmed that they had spaces or wards dedicated to patients with COVID-19, but some services such as elective surgeries could be rescheduled due to the impacts of the wave.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service said the Mackay Hospital emergency department had a separate waiting room for patients with or suspected of having COVID-19 and all patients in its emergency department. they were given a rapid antigen test.
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service incident manager Rudi De Faveri said his service had restarted its health emergency operations center.
“We’re feeling the pressure, like the rest of the community, with a lot of staff who can’t attend work because they’re not feeling well or caring for others,” he told ABC Far North.
“But for now … we’re doing well and we can handle the current numbers, but obviously, it’s putting a strain on the system.”
A Queensland Health spokesman said hospital visitors were still required to wear a mask and that patients booked for elective procedures had to undergo a self-assessment before attending appointments.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has put pressure on our healthcare system due to hospitalizations as well as a large number of low staff, and this may mean some localized changes in planned services, including rescheduling of surgeries, providing health care in other settings and telehealth consultations, ”the spokesman said.
“As they have done throughout the pandemic, all hospital and health services are carefully monitoring the current situation to ensure they have the flexibility and ability to respond to changing demands and pressures at the local level.”
Nick Yim says wearing a mask again could help the community at large. (ABC Wide Bay: Lucy Loram)
“Tired and burned” doctors
The Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association encourages regional residents not to be complacent with the pandemic and to make sure they are up to date with vaccine reinforcements.
Doctors and health professionals, vice president of the association, Nick Yim, had been working “very hard” for the past two years.
“I think we feel tired, some of us feel burned out,” Dr. Yim said.
“We’re just trying to get some fresh air. We’re trying to take a break if we can.
“But I think we all do a great job across the country.”
He said the pandemic, as well as the flu season, rising ambulances and other problems were adding stress to the healthcare system.
But he said there were things every day Queensland could do to help.
“When I walk through my hometown, Hervey Bay, people no longer wear masks … when I walk into a supermarket, people don’t wear masks,” he said.
“Please put on a mask … it’s just a small step (that) will help yourself and your community.”
Matt Masel says people over the age of 70 should contact their GPs if they test positive for COVID. (Supplied)
“The big COVID challenge is now”
The president of the Queensland Rural Physicians Association, Matt Masel, said it was imperative that the community overcome its complacency to protect health workers in small towns, where they could only have one or two doctors working in a clinic. GP and a small hospital.
“In Goondiwindi (where I have my headquarters) we were leading Australia in vaccinating people and that was fantastic,” he said.
“I don’t think that sense of community is gone, I think there’s just the feeling that we’ve had COVID and we’re trying to move on.
But he said the need for caution for COVID-19 remained.
“It’s actually at its peak, and that’s our big COVID challenge right now,” he said.
Dr. Masel said that if people received a positive COVID test, especially those over the age of 70, they should contact their GP to see if they are eligible for medications that reduce the risk of COVID. hospitalizations.