Call for more beds ahead of flu season

The Western Australian Health Department says 50 of the 330 additional hospital beds made available for the traditional increase in winter demand are already in use before the flu season has started.

The Western Australian Health Department says 50 of the 330 additional hospital beds made available for the traditional increase in winter demand are already in use before the flu season has started.But the department’s Shane Kelly says the demand is so far being met.The Australian Medical Association says in March there were eight cases of ambulance diversions, in which the three major hospitals could not safely accept more patients.The AMA’s WA branch vice-president, David Mountain, says this occurred prior to the arrival of the additional beds but highlights the need for them.”We think that will make a difference but obviously we need to see them actually arrive and see what the effect is before we can really come to any judgment.”