Number of young children attending GPs and hospitals on the rise

Kenneth Fox

Updated at 13:20

The number of young children attending GPs and hospitals across Ireland continues to rise.

Last week saw the highest cases of Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) the country has ever recorded.

Newborn and small babies are most affected by RSV.

The HSE is advising the public to protect themselves and others from respiratory viruses this winter.

Parents of children aged 2 to 17 are also encouraged to get the free nasal spray flu vaccine for their children, from their local GP or pharmac

It comes as the INMO said there are a total 625 people are being treated on trolleys at hospitals across the country.

503 of those are in emergency departments, while 122 are in wards.

Letterkenny University Hospital is the worst affected facility with 83 patients without beds.

That is followed by 74 at University Hospital Limerick, 70 at Cork University Hospital, and 44 at Tallaght University Hospital.