SaralnamaOver the past five days, more than 45,000 people visited emergency departments (EDs) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, with Monday seeing nearly 10,000 visits, a 9.2% rise from last July. The surge is due to winter illnesses, especially influenza-like cases, putting heavy pressure on hospitals. Doctors say this is the worst overcrowding they have seen. The NSW Health Minister, Ryan Park, urged people with non-life-threatening issues to call the 24-hour Healthdirect hotline or use urgent care clinics to reduce ED crowding. Despite more beds and 2,500 new nurses being added, hospitals struggle because many patients cannot leave due to lack of aged care or supported accommodation. Emergency doctors say the real problem is not enough hospital beds. The Healthdirect service helps guide patients to the right care, reducing unnecessary ED visits. The government is working to ease pressure but the situation remains challenging. (Updated 28 Aug 2025, 15:40 IST; source: link)