The flu season is expected to peak next week and the health service is taking “several measures” to prepare for a potential surge in hospitalisations and intensive care numbers, the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has said.
The numbers of people in hospital with influenza decreased on Friday compared to recent days with 960 patients in hospital, down from the 1,034 influenza-confirmed patients on Thursday. However, it is still up on the 742 patients in hospital with flu last Friday.
HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster said flu was circulating at “very high levels” and the country was likely to see high numbers of flu cases and hospitalisations at least until the end of this month.
[ Why are so many people getting the flu?Opens in new window ]
“On Friday morning 377 admitted patients were being cared for in emergency departments and as extra capacity on wards. We now expect the flu season to peak next week, and are taking several measures to prepare for the potential surge in hospitalisations and intensive care admissions due to the flu.
Ireland weather update: Heavy snow in parts as Met Éireann says cold spell will continue into next few days
‘My friend was sleeping with another friend’s boyfriend and refuses to take responsibility’
‘I actually felt unsafe as an English person in the Aviva’
I loved Alice Munro but recent revelations have tainted her legacy forever
“The intensive care capacity is currently managing, with between 325 and 330 available beds of which 301 are occupied of which 70 are flu cases. This is a high number.”
Mr Gloster said it was “vital” people understand that “if the peak occurs next week the impact is for many weeks after that, and there could well be a drop and then further escalation later in the month”.
Emergency departments have been extremely busy, with 60,609 people attending between December 20th and January 2nd, an 18 per cent increase when compared to the same period last year.
According to the HSE, over this period there has been an 11 per cent increase in admissions compared with last year with 15,384 people admitted, compared with 13,814.
There has also been a 15 per cent increase in the number of patients being discharged over the course of this period compared to the same time last year which the HSE said is “keeping the system moving”.
Dr Connor Bamford, lecturer at the school of biological sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, said due to the lag between infections and deaths it will be a number of weeks before the “true effect of these infections in terms of fatalities” will be seen.
Meanwhile, the HSE also issued advice in advance of the cold weather snap, warning even the most healthy of people can slip and fall.
“Please take care and if injured seek help, we have many injury units across the country which can assist, and this helps reduce pressure on emergency departments,” Mr Gloster said. “Of course if seriously injured or unsure then do come to the hospital.”
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
