The HSE said there were more than 30,100 emergency room admissions last week, the highest ever recorded.
HSE interim chief executive Stephen Mulvany said the pressure on the health service is significant but it will look to minimize any reduction in planned procedures over the winter period.
The HSE will hold a press conference to provide an update on health services and the HSE’s winter plan.
Mulvany said there have been a million emergency room admissions so far this year.
Compared to the pre-Covid-19 year of 2019, he said this is a 5% increase.
Mulvany said the increased pressure is also due to population growth and the elderly population rising at a faster rate.
Clinical director Dr. Colm Henry said the top three viruses this season are respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and covid-19.
He said that RSV mainly affects young children and that adults are generally not affected.
Flu season is early and 126 cases were reported last week, with 43 patients hospitalized.
There has been one death from the flu in the last week.
Dr. Henry said there is currently no new variant of Covid-19 of concern.
Damien McCallion, HSE Director of Operations, said 30,120 were treated in the emergency room last week.
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