Australian ICU director's message to NSW residents
"This is a real thing, and it's serious."
That's the message from Priya Nair, ICU director at St Vincent's hospital in Sydney.
Dr Nair said she is seeing "previously healthy patients" coming into her ward with COVID-19 who are left battling for their lives.
READ MORE: What it's like to be in the ICU with coronavirus
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St Vincent's hospital gave an unprecedented look into their ICU Ward at the beginning of the outbreak. 9News
"It is heartbreaking to see patients who are previously well, being just so critically unwell and fighting for their lives in intensive care," Dr Nair told Today.
"Some on ventilators and some on heart-lung machines. It is a real thing and it is serious.
"That is why we keep saying just get vaccinated and stay at home."
Dr Priya Nair said the ICU ward is seeing an uptick in young and healthy people, floored by COVID-19. Today
Dr Nair's message comes after two hospitals in Sydney's west, Westmead and Blacktown, were forced to turn away COVID-19 patients overnight as their wards were full.
NSW yesterday saw a record number of cases, with 919 new COVID-19 infections in 24 hours.
Dr Nair said hospitals will start "spreading the load" of patients over the coming week.
Westmead and Blacktown hospitals were forced to turn away COVID-19 patients overnight as their wards were full. Sam Mooy
While her hospital still has capacity, she's concerned about the amount of young people coming into ICU.
"We are seeing this time around a lot of younger patients in the ICU, about a third to a quarter of patients are under the age of 40," she said.
"(They're) certainly suffering from quite severe disease.
"It is what we see in day in and day out these days".
If you're struggling during this difficult time, there is 24/7 support available via the Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 4636 or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au.
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