Public urged to avoid hospital unless ‘life might be in danger’ after record day for Sydney emergency departments

Winter flu season is putting pressure on the health system, with medical staff bracing for the ‘worst three weeks of the year’

Sick patients in New South Wales have been told to avoid the emergency room unless their life is at risk after a record day for winter presentations put the hospital system under strain.

The New South Wales health minister, Ryan Park, said just under 10,000 people presented to emergency departments in Sydney on Monday, the “biggest ever recorded winter day in history”. It was around 1,000 more people than the average.