Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Aleksandra Suzi

Flu levels are low, but we're about to enter 'an extremely busy time for the health service'

Demand for the GP out-of-hours service remains high and similar to last year.

GOOD WEATHER AND low levels of flu are keeping pressure off the health system, but that’s expected to change in the coming weeks.

The HSE Winter Plan Oversight Group, which met today, is warning that while hospitals have remained “very busy”, with increased patient attendances and admissions, there has been decrease in trolley waiting times compared to last year and, in the run up to Christmas, a sharp fall in delayed discharges.

Demand for the GP out-of-hours service remains high and similar to last year.

Last year was an ‘exceptional’ year for flu, a HSE spokesperson said, with high rates of hospitalisation, and the indications are currently positive for this year.

The rate of admissions for flu is still expected to increase in the coming weeks.

This is combined with presentations of older people to emergency departments, managing patients with chronic conditions, trauma, winter vomiting and severe winter weather, resulting in a predictably busy period for hospitals.

Can’t watch the video? Click here.

Speaking to reporters this morning, Minister for Health Simon Harris stressed that it’s not too late for public to get the flu vaccine.

He noted that the initial figures on the number of health service staff getting the vaccine looked promising, and that an increase on last year is likely.

Harris added that it’s important over the busy period to “keep emergency departments for emergencies”, and for the public to use the appropriate service for their illness or injury, be it a GP service, primary care centre, minor units injury etc:

The best way you or I, as a citizen, can help our frontline staff, is by using those services appropriately.

Some of these frontline staff took to social media over the Christmas period to remind Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that they’re working unsociable hours during the holidays with the #WeAreWorking hashtag.

In November, the Taoiseach suggested that consultants should not take holidays in the first week of the year, particularly those who work in emergency departments, and that nurses should not take leave in the first two weeks of January.

“I appreciate that a lot of people have been working very hard in the health service across the Christmas period,” he told reporters, “I was there myself in the emergency department of the CUH on Christmas Day, and I visited Crumlin on Christmas Eve.

I have no doubt that a huge number of people were and are working very hard in our health service over the Christmas period in our health service. Our job is to make sure the whole system is working, for them and also for patients, that’s why we’re here today.

More advice on attending health services over the busy winter period is available here.

Additional reporting by Christina Finn

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
5 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Dunleavy
    Favourite Niall Dunleavy
    Report
    Sep 12th 2017, 8:59 AM

    No mention of middle lane hoggers? Merge onto motorway, move straight to middle lane, stay there. ( I know it’s probably just m50 with 3 lanes).

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Walker
    Favourite John Walker
    Report
    Sep 12th 2017, 9:17 AM

    @Niall Dunleavy: The article does mention middle lane Hoggeston Niall. It’s rampant!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hans Maas
    Favourite Hans Maas
    Report
    Sep 12th 2017, 8:21 PM

    And than there are: fog lights on a sunny day, no lights on a overcast, rainy or even foggy day or after sundown.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hans Maas
    Favourite Hans Maas
    Report
    Sep 12th 2017, 8:12 PM

    Correct use of the motorway requires knowledge of the rules of the road in the first place and in second place some road engineering expertise. The most blatant and stupid violations of the rules of the road are: the right of way rules which absolutely no-one and that includes the poor excuses for rule enforcers ( the guards), parking on zebra crossings, parking on corners, bullying with the car as a weapon, ridiculously engineered round about a an junctions, and last but by no means least the absolute ignorance and sheer bad attitude and lack of consideration for other road users especially cyclists and pedestrians.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hans Maas
    Favourite Hans Maas
    Report
    Sep 12th 2017, 8:17 PM

    And where in the rule book does it say that putting on your hazard lights gives you the god given right to double park, illegally park or just block the road?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mr non snowflake
    Favourite mr non snowflake
    Report
    Sep 12th 2017, 6:36 PM

    If people were to drive correctly there would be very traffic issues on the M50.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mr non snowflake
    Favourite mr non snowflake
    Report
    Sep 12th 2017, 6:39 PM

    Putting on your indicator by the way, does not give you the right of way. If you hit another vehicle already in that lane you are cutting into, you are at fault.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Old Gabby Johnson
    Favourite Old Gabby Johnson
    Report
    Sep 12th 2017, 7:27 PM

    @mr non snowflake: snowflake

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hans Maas
    Favourite Hans Maas
    Report
    Sep 12th 2017, 8:26 PM

    @mr non snowflake: you are at fault? According to whom the guy with the biggest mouth? The best lier, the cutest solicitor? When no one knows the rules including the so called law enforcers than the one at fault is always the one with the who is the least assertive.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James William Burke
    Favourite James William Burke
    Report
    Jul 29th 2020, 11:03 AM

    Overtaking on the Motorway, then pulling right in front of you as they lose their nerve, forcing you to drop back to safe distance. Happens constantly ;-(

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds