“While we will always have as many crews on the road as we can, every call that isn’t an emergency puts even further strain on them to reach those who need us the most.”
Loading
Hospitals were warned of a potential increase in demand for their services when the Health Department escalated its caution level across the public system on Monday.
Responding to higher COVID-19 case numbers, the department advised more telehealth consultations, stricter PPE and shorter hospital stays might be required across the state as a result.
A spokesperson said the health system was well prepared and equipped to handle the increase in COVID-19 cases combined with winter colds and cases of flu.
“We will continue to monitor the situation as it progresses,” the spokesperson said.
Ambulance Victoria encouraged those who didn’t need emergency transport to consider visiting the GP or a priority primary care centre, or travel to the emergency department by their own means if they were well enough. Victorians can also get support from their pharmacist or the Nurse-on-Call hotline.
A code red – where non-emergency ambulances begin responding to cases and patients are rapidly offloaded at hospitals – has not occurred in Victoria since 2022.
Loading
More than one in three of the 20,000 influenza cases reported across Australia in 2024 have been in a child under 15 years. Childhood flu rates are up 20 per cent on 2023.
Dr Anthea Rhodes, a paediatrician at the Royal Children’s Hospital, said it was concerning that flu vaccination rates among children were so low at the start of Melbourne’s winter.
Less than one in seven children aged under 15 have been vaccinated against this year’s flu strain, according to the hospital’s national child health poll.
Paediatrician Anthea Rhodes, director of the Royal Children’s Hospital national child health poll.Credit: Joe Armao
“The flu is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable hospitalisation for children aged under five and can cause serious illness and even death,” said Rhodes, director of the child health poll.
“The flu is seasonal with infections peaking between June and September, which means the good news is it’s not too late to vaccinate.”
– with Alex Crowe
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.