Hospital workers run off their feet

By Danielle Teutsch, Sun Herald Health Reporter
August 4 2002
The Sun-Herald
 

Hospital emergency departments across Sydney are being stretched to breaking point by parents terrified their children's sniffles and minor fevers are early signs of meningococcal disease.

Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick and The Children's Hospital at Westmead said their emergency department admissions had increased by 30 per cent in the past fortnight.

Sydney Children's Hospital clinical services co-ordinator Michael Brydon said the hospital had never been so consistently busy. Staff were working overtime on extra shifts to meet the unrelenting demand, and average waits were about four hours.

Dr Brydon said: "It's the busiest we've ever been.

"When staff come in the waiting room is full, and when they go home the waiting room is full. They are working their butts off.