Qld: Helicopter transfer was best for critical patient

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2009
Qld: Helicopter transfer was best for critical patient

By Steve Gray

BRISBANE, Aug 3 AAP - A critically-ill patient suffering from swine flu was flown 700km
by helicopter because it was the best option available, Queensland Health officials say.

The incident came as health authorities warned of a possible second wave of the virus
after a peak later this month.

The patient was flown from Atherton east to Cairns where no beds were available in
intensive care at that city's hospital.

The 48-year-old man was then flown south to Townsville for transfer to another helicopter
and flown further south to Mackay, where beds were available at the Mackay Base Hospital.

It was known that there were no beds available at Townsville Hospital.

Queensland Health deputy director-general for policy and planning, Andrew Wilson, said
the patient's health was the priority and he was placed in the most appropriate bed available.

"This was the best arrangement for this patient at that particular point in time,"

Mr Wilson told reporters in Brisbane.

"We don't have to move patients that far very often but it does occur.

"It's not totally unique and certainly in a state of this length and breadth it's not
unusual that we have to fly patients quite a significant distance."

Mr Wilson apologised to the man's family.

"In other circumstances we would have preferred to have cared for him closer to home," he said.

"We are in the middle of winter, we are in the middle of the flu season, so demand
for intensive care beds is at an all-time high in that regard."

The patient, who was flown while on a ventilator, is still critically ill but stable,
Mr Wilson said.

Queensland's chief health officer Jeannette Young said staff availability in the face
of a protracted pandemic also had to be considered when allocating patients to beds and
the patient could receive excellent care in Mackay.

"It was actually a very sensible thing for that patient," she said.

Dr Young said the swine flu pandemic is expected to peak within the next three weeks,
but it could be followed by a second wave.

"I think we'll probably have increased numbers of patients to manage until we get the
vaccine," she said.

She said the vaccine should be ready for distribution in October.

Health officers from around the nation will meet as the Australia Health Protection
Committee later this week to decide on the priorities for vaccination.

Meanwhile, two more Queenslanders with swine flu died over the weekend, bringing the
state's death toll to 11.

AAP stg/pjo/mn/jfm

KEYWORD: FLU QLD WRAP

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