With 4 individuals already lifeless and 5 intubated with issues from flu and seasonal infections, individuals with a cough or fever are flocking to state hospital emergency departments searching for instant therapy and ready for hours on finish to be seen by a physician.
Folks dying and struggling life-threatening issues from flu is nothing new and occurs yearly, nevertheless what must be prevented is utilizing casualty rather than a GP, who may prescribe the mandatory treatment over the telephone.
Emergency rooms are for pressing, life-threatening circumstances and anybody not categorised as such might be inconvenienced for just a few hours till a physician can see them, state well being companies organisation (Okypy) spokesman Charalambos Charilaou instructed the Cyprus Mail.
“The outbreak of seasonal infections continues and for that reason we’ve got lots of strain on the emergency division the place Okypy has made certain that each one emergencies, by which the lifetime of an individual is in peril, might be given instant medical consideration,” Charilaou mentioned.
“However circumstances that aren’t pressing and must be on the GP or the outpatients in fact will expertise some inconvenience till they’re examined. Our plea to the general public is that after they have a small cough or a little bit of fever, circumstances that aren’t pressing, they need to go to their GPs or the outpatients on responsibility over weekends and holidays,” he mentioned.
“The numbers on the emergency departments have doubled, the result’s elevated admissions and the occupancy of hospitals is over 90 per cent however underneath management.”
“We have now the infrastructure and experience and we’ve got proved throughout Covid that we are able to adapt to fulfill the wants,” he mentioned.
He added that it was “crucial for all to cooperate – Okypy, the medical professionals and the personal sector – to handle this seasonal disaster.”
“The emergency departments should not for circumstances the place somebody’s life is just not in peril. Their function is to cope with troublesome and pressing circumstances,” he pressured.
At Nicosia normal hospital alone, there are over 200 circumstances a day.
“Many should not pressing circumstances. They shouldn’t be there with a small cough or a little bit of temperature. Nonetheless, we’ve got by no means refused to see a affected person that involves the emergency division,” he mentioned.
Charilaou defined that “the circumstances are categorised, the emergencies are prioritised for instant medical therapy and people deemed to not be pressing will presumably face delays, however they’ll undoubtedly obtain correct therapy when their flip comes.”
“The workers is working full pace to serve the individuals and handle all circumstances effectively,” he added.Anybody with signs, he mentioned, ought to converse with their GP to keep away from any issues.
Relating to the flu-related deaths recorded already, Charilaou mentioned “that is to be anticipated, this occurs yearly.”
“This doesn’t imply that everybody with an underlying illness dies. These with underlying illnesses are extra prone to growing issues, however this doesn’t imply that on the finish of the day these with issues are solely these with underlying illnesses,” he mentioned.
He urged the general public to take security precautions, resembling washing arms, disinfecting surfaces, correctly airing areas, and mentioned those that might be vaccinated ought to accomplish that whereas those that are unwell ought to keep at house so that they don’t unfold it round.
In the meantime, normal practitioners throughout the island have reported being underneath unprecedented strain, as sufferers are turning up by the handfuls searching for reduction from flu and different seasonal sicknesses.
“This week was the worst” for the reason that GP system was established, vice chairman of the GP scientific society Mary Avraamidou mentioned.
She instructed philenews that by the top of the week flu issues had develop into evident, with bronchitis and different signs.
Avraamidou mentioned this was a European phenomenon and never restricted to Cyprus, with flu manifesting two weeks sooner than ordinary and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) nonetheless circulating among the many public.
She added that individuals with flu signs ought to keep at house and GPs solely referred to as sufferers in if signs didn’t subside or the fever relapsed.
GPs have been additionally adamant about sufferers taking assessments, advising retaking assessments even when preliminary outcomes have been detrimental.
The combo 4-in-1 assessments obtainable at pharmacies check for influenza A and B, Covid-19 and RSV.
Chairman of the state medical doctors’ union Soteris Koumas instructed Phileleftheros that everybody’s cooperation was crucial.
He additionally referred to as on the general public to remain at house when signs seem to keep away from spreading the an infection.
Within the meantime, pharmacists steered vaccinating individuals at personal pharmacies.
Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Affiliation Ploutarchos Georgiades mentioned this example may presumably have been prevented if the general public may get flu jabs at their native chemists.
