Sars surge could stretch NZ says Annette King

By FRANCESCA MOLD

Health Minister Annette King said yesterday that hospitals would have trouble coping with a surge of Sars patients needing intensive care.

New Zealand is yet to have a confirmed case of the virus, which has killed hundreds around the world.

But Auckland Hospital staff have questioned how well the country's health services are prepared for a potential Sars epidemic.

Ms King agreed that health services would find it difficult if large numbers of people became seriously ill and needed respirators.

"If there is a widespread outbreak and it required a lot of intensive care within hospitals we would struggle as they have in Toronto and other places."

But she said many Sars sufferers were able to be treated in their own homes and only severe cases would need to be treated in hospital.



She said New Zealand had taken a measured approach to preparation for the virus' possible arrival.

Ministry of Health staff were in close contact with health experts in countries affected by Sars so the information sent out to schools, hospitals and other organisations was up to date.

Ms King said she had been assured by the Auckland Hospital critical care unit clinical director, Colin McArthur, that the hospital was as prepared as it could be and staff had received adequate training.

There were 11 rooms at Green Lane Hospital able to isolate Sars patients and there were plenty of places where people could be put on respirators, she said.

Her assurances came after intensive-care specialist Les Gallor said he was worried about the levels of preparation for a Sars outbreak at Auckland Hospital.

He claimed staff had received little advice about precautions they should take.

"If we get a Sars patient, and I suspect it's inevitable, what is the advice to staff about what they should do after they have been looking after the patient?

"Should they go home, should they go home with various protections, or should they stay in a hotel, for example?"

Dr McArthur said staff had received extensive information and training sessions about what to do.

Acting Prime Minister Michael Cullen said yesterday that New Zealand had a clear strategy in place to deal with Sars.

Ministry officials were making sure New Zealanders received up-to-date information about Sars, there were nurses at international airports checking people with symptoms and public health officials had been given the power to quarantine people.

Dr Cullen said suspected cases in Dunedin and Hawkes Bay showed the quarantine system was working.

* The former Tauranga man suffering from Sars in China, David Riddington, hopes to be out of hospital in the next two days.

His brother Brian said their father had spoken to Mr Riddington yesterday morning and said he was feeling fine.

The day before 39-year-old Mr Riddington was due to leave China for the Caribbean, he was stopped from boarding a flight to Beijing and quarantined at Jiaoda Hospital in Xi'an, because his fever, cough and sore throat were Sars symptoms.