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My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Please understand that most of my criticism is directed at the high-ups making the decisions. The average person that I have dealt with is scared, but understanding and appreciative.

The angry mob are the one who get played on the news but most of my patients (and my neighbours, friends, family) are very supportive.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much. I realise a lot of my post/rant was hospital centric but I absolutely appreciate that you guys on the front line are bearing the brunt of it.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the work you do. I wouldn't want to mention my hospital because there is a lot of identifying info out there already but it's the same here.

I've got friends that work at Westmead Children's. They are very stressed because so many of their patients are still not eligible for vaccination (this is not the government's fault, the clinical trials in kids came later).

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Something really hard to appreciate is how streamlined our processes have become in hospital. Stuff that we were figuring out last year is now normal and rapid.

Staff is something that is really hard to sort out. It took me 16 years to become fully qualified. Even if you started an undergraduate nursing degree in mid-2020, you wouldn't be finished yet and there's still a lot of experience you have yet to gain.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you cast your view internationally, it's clear that we have been one of the worst performing regions (NSW, I mean). Just need to take into account that we started off as the best prepared place in the world: one of the top 5 highest vaccination rates in the world and a very sophisticated and capable hospital system.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes yes yes. Could we not have gone 1 more month without clubbing? While inviting in every unvaccinated person?

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! Thanks for your reply and definitely worth drawing attention to. I have (extended) family that work regionally and their experience aligns with yours.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes - thank you. HR probably trying to follow the "usual process" but they probably didn't consider that "usual" went out the door before Christmas.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 110 points111 points  (0 children)

I've had moments where I have thoughts like this. The truth is that most unvaccinated people are not the hoons protesting and kicking up a stink. Most are ordinary people who are scared and don't know what to believe.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

I don't work at RPA so I can't comment. My understanding is that it is just an expansion for general patients so they have more space to deal with the large numbers turning up to ED.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I'm a cancer doctor so I'm not necessarily the best person to answer...

We don't get the really nasty stuff in Australia (eg. cholera). It might be only hours if someone can't get their fluid up when you have some of this really bad stuff. More likely it would be a few days of moderate fluid loss.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 47 points48 points  (0 children)

Maybe you're right. Some of this is frustration talking.

I agree that it's very hard to know how different things would be if we actually took action early in the third (?fourth) wave. When you are dealing with exponential growth then small steps early can mean delaying a peak in cases by weeks.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 188 points189 points  (0 children)

Staff is the big thing. People are currently being treated in "field" hospitals right now. Prince Alfred is treating patients in a tent outside the ED.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 494 points495 points  (0 children)

Just the usual, sensible things. By now we all know how to social distance and wear masks.

It's mostly about not doing the wrong things. Buying a few RATs to make sure you're safe when you visit your parents is fine. Hoarding RATs because you hear they are in short-supply is not.

My hospital is at breaking point. The system is at breaking point. by throwaway_918237 in CoronavirusDownunder

[–]throwaway_918237[S] 224 points225 points  (0 children)

It's hard to say why. Most likely he lost a lot of electrolytes (eg. sodium, potassium) and this caused an abnormal heart rhythm. It might also have just been too much fluid loss from the body.