Rates of Covid-19 and flu are rising in Ireland and will lead to significant pressures in hospitals, health chiefs have warned.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said there has been a rise in the number of people with respiratory illnesses attending emergency departments – 538 people with flu and 282 with Covid attended hospital this week, an increase from 312 (flu) and 144 (Covid) the previous week.
The HSE said while the health system is responding well to the increased pressures, the public need to play their part in using the right options for care.
A HSE statement said: “Increasing community infection rates will lead to increased risk of outbreaks in hospitals, nursing homes and residential care facilities, potentially affecting the most vulnerable people.
“There are currently 30 outbreaks of Covid in hospitals and 24 in nursing homes, again an increase from last week.
“Our acute hospitals are as prepared as can be to deal with the expected rise in attendances and admissions over the coming period.
“Today there are 119 people on trolleys (87 in ED and 32 on a ward) compared to 443 on the same date last year.
“A further 124 patients are occupying surge beds compared to 375 on the same date last year.
“Meanwhile, yesterday there were 357 people in hospital ready for discharge and awaiting suitable non-acute care, compared to 475 people on the same date last year.”
Members of the public have been urged only to attend hospital for emergencies and to use options such as a local pharmacy or HSE.ie.
Eligible people have also been urged to get their flu and Covid vaccine.
Dr Colm Henry, HSE chief clinical officer, said: “Rates of Covid and flu are rising now and over the next few weeks, which will put significant pressure on hospitals and residential care facilities in the short term.
“Our emergency departments are expected to encounter significant pressures as a result and we know from experience that a delayed peak in flu season such as we are seeing now will inevitably lead to further pressures throughout the healthcare system with heightened risk of outbreaks in all facilities and delays discharging patients to nursing homes or step down facilities if they have flu or Covid.
“This increase in viruses circulating obliges anyone with respiratory symptoms to avoid visiting hospitals and nursing homes if we have respiratory symptoms.
“Every healthcare setting is assessing the risks locally and monitoring their own local risks, and this may lead them to take additional measures in certain settings, such as the wearing of masks if deemed necessary.”
Dr Eamonn O’Moore, director of national health protection, said: “We are now seeing a sustained rise in the levels of infection with both Covid-19 and seasonal flu, including among people attending emergency departments and being admitted to hospitals.
“The new JN.1 variant of Covid is fast becoming the dominant strain. This variant may be more transmissible than previous variants, resulting in more infections.
“We are still collating data in Ireland and internationally on whether it will result in more illness requiring hospital care but at this time we are not seeing that signal.
“However, with more infection around, there is greater risk some people who are vulnerable could become ill and require hospital care and we still need to protect our vulnerable members of society, children and adults, by doing what we can to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.”
