VISITOR restrictions and mask mandates have been put in place in a string of hospitals as the flu outbreak continues to put the health service under pressure.
More than 1,000 people were recorded as having the flu in our hospitals this week with cases expected to continue to grow in the coming days.
The head of the HSE Bernard Gloster revealed that 62 of the 1,017 patients hospitalised with flu are being treated in ICU – 25 of whom are on ventilators.
He said this is a very high figure for those being treated for flu and showed the nasty end of the virus in which people can become seriously ill.
Those being treated in ICU are mostly older citizens and the very young who are being treated for RSV, which can also have a serious impact on babies and young children.
The surge in cases is putting serious strain on the health service as flu patients must be isolated from others and the outbreak is also resulting in staff being unable to come into work due to infection.
Hospitals are making decisions on a local basis to try and contain the spread and ease pressure.
The University Hospital of Limerick group said there are visitor restrictions across all hospitals in the mid-west and they are recording high admission numbers since the weekend.
Visitor restrictions have also been put in place at all of the Midlands Regional Group Hospitals including Tullamore, Portlaoise, Mullingar, Naas and Tipperary.
HSE South West have put in visitor restrictions in University Hospital Kerry, Cork University Hospital, Bantry General Hospital and Mallow General.
Officials in Kerry and CUK have also put in place a mask mandate which means people must wear face coverings while inside the hospital in order to prevent the spread of infection.
More than 5,000 people attended emergency departments across the country on Monday, with at least 1,200 of these admitted.
‘SYSTEM IS UNDER PRESSURE’
HSE chief executive Gloster said the health service is managing the situation well but he is urging people to co-operate with any visitor restrictions or mask rules put in place at their hospitals.
He said: “All our staff and systems are responding and managing very well and even though we have improved on recent years, there is no doubt that the system is under pressure.
“Our hospitals are operating infection prevention control measures and we ask everyone to help and co-operate, including with any visitor restrictions that may be in place.
“We know that can be difficult for families and loved ones, especially at this time of year, but we must protect our patients and prevent the spread of infections in hospitals and other healthcare settings.”
The HSE is encouraging people to consider alternative healthcare options to hospitals if they are feeling unwell.
People are urged to contact their pharmacy, GP or out-of-hours GP services if possible.