HSE outlines 'significant measures' to cope with high levels of flu and Covid cases

Vivienne Clarke

The chief executive of the HSE, Bernard Gloster, has outlined the “significant measures” being implemented to cope with the high levels of influenza and respiratory illnesses.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s News at One, Mr Gloster said that in the week to last Friday there were 1,845 cases of Covid, RSV and flu, with flu being just under 1,000 of those cases.

This meant a lot of demand on GP services with 789 of the cases turning up in emergency departments, of which 470 cases were flu.

The situation was “quite stark”, he said, as in the past week alone in the age 75 and over category 4,600 attended emergency departments.

“There is no doubt we're in for a very pressured situation (in hospitals) and the next two weeks particularly look quite concerning in respect of the prevalence of flu.

Mr Gloster said one of the most significant measures would be “hospital avoidance” to encourage people to practice “self care” and to use “other pathways” like medical assessment units and local entry units.

From December 27th there will be an increase in the availability of general practice with extended hours and Saturday cover.

“Last year we put in place additional GP services and over 120,000 consultations benefited from that. This year we're doing the same and we're also putting into our out-of-hours GP service what is the equivalent of 150 extra doctors operating in four hour sessions.

"So there's a lot of preparation. And then within hospitals, the focus is very much on the care and management of people in emergency departments who do need to be there.”

Care work would not be scheduled for the three week period from now until January, he added, with a focus on emergency care and caring for people outside hospitals where possible “to keep the hospital system going.”