Bushfire smoke fuelled a spike in emergency department visits and demand for medical treatment in the worst-affected regions of Australia’s Black Summer.

A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has examined the short-term health impacts of last summer’s devastating fires which claimed 33 lives.

NSW emergency department presentations for respiratory issues show a clear statewide rise over summer.

The rate peaked in Christmas week, which was 8% higher than the same period in 2018.