Already strained hospitals in Queensland hit with a flu epidemic

Already strained hospitals in Queensland have been hit with a flu epidemic.

Flu diagnoses are almost three times higher than the flu-year average for this time of year in the state.

At least 6,500 people have already been diagnosed with the flu since the start of the year and the numbers are putting pressure on emergency departments.

Last week a code yellow was declared, meaning all adult public emergency departments were at capacity.

People were being asked to stay away unless it is an absolute emergency and elective surgeries were cancelled.

Today, there will be top level talks between emergency department bosses and Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles.

They are asking for him to be handed regular reports when someone is forced to wait more than 24 hours in the emergency department. They are particularly concerned about mental health cases, saying in those cases it is very important that those people are seen to by a doctor very quickly.

Doctors are advising people to get flu shots.