Sick patients have been forced to wait on the floor of Mount Druitt Hospital as the flu season takes hold across Sydney, sparking outrage and raising serious questions about the state’s health system.

A photograph of patients waiting on the floor at Mount Druitt Hospital early on Tuesday morning triggered anger online, with similar stories emerging of mothers being forced to wait outside with their babies.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sydney hospitals overwhelmed as flu season peaks

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NSW Health Minister Ryan Park apologised for the incident, saying “I apologise to that person and their family.”

The crisis comes just months after the government publicly assured the health system was ready for the winter flu season.

Local resident Sue Borg expressed her disgust at the situation.

“That’s just ridiculous. These people are sick, you know, they need beds, they need more staff,” she said.

An image of patients on the floor at Mount Druitt Hospital. Credit: 7NEWS

While some accused people of making unnecessary hospital visits, Premier Chris Minns urged patients to consider visiting a GP instead for non-life-threatening conditions.

“If it’s not life threatening, we genuinely suggest that you do that,” he told radio station 2GB.

NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane criticised the government’s response.

“After four years of labour in this state, the best they can do is tell people don’t turn up to the emergency department,” she said.

Frontline health staff experienced their busiest day on record on Monday, with 10,000 patients arriving at hospital doors across Sydney and more than 4000 ambulance callouts.

A new health command centre is now helping to manage the chaos by coordinating the emergency response in real time, including redirecting ambulances to hospitals with capacity rather than just the nearest facility.

Health authorities are reminding the public it’s not too late to get vaccinated, with the flu season only expected to get worse before it gets better.