Government concerned over flu as trolley numbers on rise in Cork

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that the Government is “very concerned” about the latest “particularly virulent” flu strain and the impact this is having on hospitals, as nearly 80 people were on trolleys in Cork hospitals yesterday.

Latest figures show that there were 386 cases of flu in the HSE South West region, covering Cork and Kerry, including 70 requiring hospitalisations, last week. This is up 46% from the previous week with 263 cases, while hospitalisations increased 37% from 51 the previous week.

Daily trolley reports compiled by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that there were 53 people on trolleys in Cork University Hospital yesterday, as well as 14 in Mercy University Hospital and 10 in Bantry General Hospital.

This represents a marked increase from the same time last month, when there were just 20 people on trolleys in Cork hospitals: 14 in CUH, six in the Mercy, and none in Bantry.

Speaking to the media in Cork on Friday, the Taoiseach said that the current flu rates are “undoubtedly” putting pressure on hospitals.

“We are very concerned,” said Mr Martin.

“It is a particularly virulent flu this season, vaccination levels are high relative to other EU countries, but we want them to be higher, so we would appeal to people to get vaccinated. That’s the most effective sort of weapon at our disposal to deal with this.

“The hospitals will manage this and will bring in various protocols, and will escalate those protocols when appropriate.”

He confirmed the Government is not considering public health restrictions, and said he had visited CUH on Friday and spoken to the CEO.

“They are under pressure, but they do have protocols and approaches to dealing with events of this kind, but it is a particularly stronger, more virulent form of flu than previous ones, and it’s having an impact on people … so it has necessitated greater hospitalisation and so forth,” he said.

“So people need to be vigilant and look after themselves.”