Spike in flu cases could see Adelaide patients sent to outer metropolitan hospitals

Adelaide : Health patients in Adelaide could be sent to hospitals in outer metropolitan areas to recuperate because of an expected surge in the number of flu cases.
The South Australian Government said the number of flu cases recorded this year had already reached 1,777, which is about 1,000 more than the same time last year.
“We’re shaping up for another very severe flu season,” Health Minister Jack Snelling said.
“I don’t think anyone could doubt that last year was the worst flu season we had on record, and [now] we have about twice as many flu notifications as we did the same time last year.”Mr Snelling said management plans have been put in place for increased demand in South Australia’s hospitals this flu season.
He said where appropriate, metropolitan hospitals would be able to send patients to hospitals outside the city, such as Gawler or Mt Barker.
“Those sorts of hospitals that are reasonably close to Adelaide, and if people live in the suburban fringes of Adelaide it’s not going to be too far for them or their family to travel,” Mr Snelling said.”We wouldn’t be sending people across all the corners of the state in order to get a hospital bed.”SA Health figures show the changing number of cases over the past few years: