The chief clinical officer of the Health Service Executive has said that although flu season has reached its peak this week, pressure on health services is expected to continue.
The HSE had previously warned that flu cases were likely to peak over Christmas week due to increased social gatherings, with particular concern for people under 14 and over 65, reports RTE.
There are currently 677 people in hospital with respiratory illnesses, including flu, Covid-19 and RSV.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News At One, Dr Colm Henry said: “What has happened though is the impact of these cases hasn’t translated through to the levels of harm we have seen in previous years and that conversion rate of cases out in the community through to people requiring hospitalisation because they are so sick hasn’t been as severe,” reports RTE.
The HSE chief said this could indicate relatively high vaccine uptake among older age groups, along with a coordinated response from GPs, including extra clinics, senior decision-making in hospitals and improved access to diagnostics.
“The effect of this really has been, thankfully, fewer trolleys and particularly, more importantly, reduced lengths of stay while people wait for admission, which can cause great harm for patients,” he added, reports RTE.
Dr Henry said that in some years another peak can occur during January due to different strains of flu.
“It hasn’t had the severe impact we feared earlier on in the flu season,” he said, reports RTE.
However, because pressures are expected to persist, he urged people to remain vigilant, particularly those who are unwell.
He advised people who are sick to avoid close contact with individuals who may be vulnerable, reports RTE.
“It’s very late in the vaccine season but nevertheless it is not too late if people want to avail of the vaccines. We are still offering them through GPs and pharmacists,” he said, reports RTE.
Dr Henry also said that people who are unwell should think about the different ways they can access healthcare.
This includes additional GP clinics, out-of-hours GP services and local injury units that can treat minor head injuries, fractures, burns, scrapes and other minor injuries, reports RTE.
Giving advice ahead of New Year’s celebrations, Dr Henry said most people understand the difference between a cold and flu, with flu symptoms being much more severe.
“The advice we give to people is to take paracetamol, ibuprofen, lots of fluids, stay inside, stay at home, avoid contact with people who may be more vulnerable than you,” he said, reports RTE.
“For those people who are vulnerable, who have underlying illness, chronic illness, or whose immune suppression isn’t working so well, to make early contact with the health services,” he said, reports RTE.
He said this was to ensure that people receive the correct advice if their condition worsens.
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