Hon Simon O'Brien asks about emergency department presentations at three teaching hospitals, specifically regarding influenza cases, for July-September 2003. The Minister provides total presentation numbers but cannot specify flu cases due to data limitations, while confirming a significant flu season.

AnsweredQoN 1238Legislative Council
Asked
10 September 2003
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

Will the Minister please advise -
(1) How many cases have presented at the emergency department of each of the three teaching hospitals in the months of July, August and September to date?
(2) Of these cases, how many were individuals suffering from the flu?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
19 September 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
9 days
FH RPH SCGH TOTAL July 2003 3248 4143 3124 10515 August 2003 3510 4290 3348 11148 to 11 September 2003 1147 1522 1187 3856 (2) The number of cases of influenza and ‘flu-specific symptoms cannot be defined from Emergency Department triage data. Formal diagnosis and categorisation of influenza through pathology testing is only performed when clinicians deem it to be clinically indicated. PathCentre has confirmed however, that this is Western Australia’s largest influenza season for at least five years.
(2) The number of cases of influenza and ‘flu-specific symptoms cannot be defined from Emergency Department triage data. Formal diagnosis and categorisation of influenza through pathology testing is only performed when clinicians deem it to be clinically indicated. PathCentre has confirmed however, that this is Western Australia’s largest influenza season for at least five years.
Formal diagnosis and categorisation of influenza through pathology testing is only performed when clinicians deem it to be clinically indicated. PathCentre has confirmed however, that this is Western Australia’s largest influenza season for at least five years.

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