The end of flu season is approaching but it is still having a major impact on hospital overcrowding, the HSE has said.

In the meantime, the health service is advising patients to go to their GP or local injury unit to help ease the pressure on Emergency Departments around the country.

Surge plans are in place due to the high prevalence of patients presenting with Covid 19, winter bug and flu like symptoms.

“The public health advice at the moment is we’re certainly still seeing prevalence of influenza, COVID and other respiratory illnesses,” HSE Chief Operating Officer Damien McCallion said.

“So, that’s still a factor for us in terms of the pressures on our hospitals.

“On the positive side, we believe we are starting to pass that peak, although clearly it doesn’t stop on a given day.

“It’s going to take a number of weeks to move into what we [would] call a normal time.”

Patients on trolleys

Yesterday, there were 483 patients waiting on trolleys in hospitals across the nation with a high number of COVID and flu cases attending at EDs.

Mr McCallion said the health service is putting plans in place to ensure everyone can receive the care they need.

“We do have a number of hospitals that are experiencing delays and are under pressure,” he said.

“Those particular hospitals are Tallaght, Limerick, Galway, Cork and Letterkenny.

“We’re implementing all of our surge plans… So, that everything that can be done is being done in those areas.

“But we are under some pressure at those sites this week.”

Main image: Woman blowing her nose into paper handkerchief on the bus on a cold winter day. Image: Igor Stevanovic / Alamy