sa 'could not cope' with bird flu

SA 'could not cope' with bird flu

20jan06
SOUTH Australia's hospital system could not cope with a serious outbreak of bird flu, a Family First election candidate has said.

Dennis Hood, campaigning for a place in the Legislative Council at the March poll, said the current bed shortage in both public and private hospitals meant the state could not cope with a flu epidemic let alone a possible pandemic.

"We have a shortage of beds in both public and private hospitals and if this is pushed any further then we would be in serious trouble," he said.

Mr Hood said he had heard of instances where doctors had spent 90 minutes phoning around hospitals trying in vain to find a bed for a patient.

"I don't believe that this is a seasonal issue, it is an ongoing issue that must be addressed," he said.


"If only a handful of beds are available, then it shows that Adelaide is at crisis point."