It is also worth bearing in mind that before we get some significant
outbreak we will have a number of 'test cases' which turn out to be nothing
or at most suspect cases. At the moment the most immediate threat to the
function of emergency departments in the UK and Ireland is probably the
mis/under-informed public / primary care, the spin put on the situation by
the media and volume of false negatives that we will have to deal with.
All these will distract us from contiuing to provide care for the chap in
the corner who needs our attention for ventilatory support, or the septic
elederly patient with a perf, or an abused child.
We have had high profile media attention over the last week from the
management of one case and consequently attracted a significant extra volume
of SARS related work - telephonic and clinical eg:
'I am touring Ireland from toronto, should I come in for a SARS test ?'
'I was in Toronto in February and have been short of breath since - my GP
said he would fax the letter in (he did)'
'We need a letter to say we can go to work - the 'Burger King two' who were
given a letter by their GP saying '? SARS' because they had been in China 2
weeks ago and in fact had no symptoms
Nevertheless these cases are also an opportunity to get our preparedness
right and we should not lessen our guard because of an inevitable high
number of false positives in the early days.
John Ryan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Danny McGeehan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 09:41
Subject: SARS & NHS modernisation
> Colleagues
> Thanks to John Ryan and Rowley the implications of SARS are beginning to
sink home to an increasingly complacent list. I have been concerned for
several months. Yesterday I was reviewing the expereriences of the Canadian
medics and the disease has ground the mechanisations of the hospitals to a
halt. The staff literally get knackered doing 12hour shifts under the
protective equipment.
>
> As sure as eggs are eggs and night follows day it will hit the UK. With
any viral illness from smallpox to flu it is infective before the patients
have clinical manifestations. My extensive research of the condition
defines two camps. The clinical virologists of whom I hold the highest
regard recommend strict quarantine while the CMO and the CCCD's are in my
opinion more laissez faire.
>
> I am somewhat alarmed because it will have a profound effect on the A&E
modernisation.
>
> Kind regards
>
> Danny McGeehan
>
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