Entire health system under pressure from biggest flu outbreak in 10 years - health boss
New Zealand's health system is facing extreme pressure due to a significant flu outbreak, with hospitalizations reaching a 10-year high. Health officials are implementing emergency measures, including increased telehealth services and redirected resources, to manage the surge in patients.
Why it matters
The strain on public health infrastructure highlights the ongoing vulnerability of healthcare systems to seasonal respiratory virus spikes and staffing shortages.
The entire health system is under pressure from the biggest flu outbreak in years , the country's health boss says.
Flu-related hospitalisations are at a 10-year high in Auckland, with national infection rates at a four-year high and rising.
Health NZ chief executive Dale Bramley told Nine to Noon the hospital system was "very, very busy" but it did not stop there.
"Whether its from health lines which take calls and triage calls, through to primary care, to St John, to our emergency departments, the whole health system is currently under significant pressure," he said.
A national coordination centre set up this week was diverting staff and resources to help where needed most but it was not always easy, he said.
That was exacerbated by a 27 percent increase in Health NZ staff off sick in the past week.
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