Thursday, October 22 2009

“There are no critical cases at the hospital at this time, neither have there been any more deaths, but there has been an increased number of admittance, however, there is no cause for alarm,” said a medical source. There have been four deaths due to swine flu at the hospital and overall there are 163 confirmed cases in the country.

Sources said there has been an increase in staff absenteeism at the hospital which is putting a strain on the provision of services.



In one case, the son of a former member of the South West Regional Health Authority, who was admitted to the hospital, is reported to be recovering from the illness.



There was no change to the long lines at the Ambulance Bay yesterday as patients coughed, sneezed and sniffled through their masks while waiting their turn to get tested for the virus. One woman waited with her two young children said her son became ill at school and she brought him to the hospital to get tested.



Unlike Tuesday, however there was a doctor present along with two nurses and patients said the lines were moving. Health officials once again appealed to the public to make use of the district health facilities and refrain from crowding the hospital.



Following the four confirmed swine flu deaths last week there has been an influx of persons at the hospital for testing.