Hospital staff urged to wear masks as respiratory bugs hit
On Thursday, Joondalup Health Campus staff were requested to wear masks in all clinical areas to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses.
It is understood St John of God Midland Hospital has also encouraged staff to wear masks in clinical areas.
It comes as The West Australian this week revealed the number of people in hospital with the flu had more than doubled the same time last year.
A Ramsay Health Care WA spokeswoman said the request to wear masks came after an increase in infectious respiratory bugs at the hospital — including influenza and COVID.
'Joondalup Health Campus is encouraging staff to wear face masks in all clinical areas in response to an increase in respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, which the hospital is seeing more of than usual for this time of the year, including in relation to inpatients,' she said.
'At this stage, Hollywood Private Hospital, Glengarry Private Hospital and Attadale Rehabilitation Hospital haven't experienced the same level of heightened influenza and COVID activity, and therefore have not needed to make changes to mask wearing protocols.
'Ramsay Health Care will continue to closely monitor the situation across our WA hospitals.'
She encouraged people to get the flu vaccination and keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Perth's northern suburbs have experienced the highest flu numbers in the metropolitan area with 2556 cases so far this year. The eastern suburbs are next with 2316 cases while the southern suburbs have recorded 1916 infections.
A St John of God Health Care spokeswoman said 'ensuring the safety of patients and caregivers continues to be a top priority'.
'To be more agile in managing acute respiratory infections, a framework is in place that enables our wards or hospitals to introduce mask use during periods of increased risk, such as localised outbreaks,' she said.
'These decisions are made locally, based on clinical advice and current risk levels.'
A WA Health spokesman said the department had not issued a State-wide directive to wear masks in hospitals.
'As per the COVID-19 infection and prevention control in WA healthcare facilities guidelines, healthcare and residential care facilities may implement routine mask-wearing as part of their winter respiratory virus strategy, during specific situations,' he said.
WA Health figures show that, as of June 15, there have been 8708 recorded influenza infections so far this year, more than double the 3760 cases this time last year.
Of those 8708 cases, 1579 people have been admitted to hospital — more than double the 749 at the same time last year.
COVID cases have also been climbing with an average of 156 people in hospital with the infection, as of June 15, after 148 people the previous week.
Health experts warned a further spike of flu was expected in coming weeks as the middle of winter nears.
WA chief health officer Andrew Robertson urged anyone feeling sick to look after themselves.
'Obviously they need to rest and if they become unwell, particularly if they have any other health issues, consider going to the GP and to our emergency department, noting that it is a busy time of year for all of our hospitals,' he said on Wednesday.
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