The situation in hospitals at present is "extremely, extremely dangerous" due to overcrowding and rising COVID-19 rates, according to the INMO.
448 people are in hospital with COVID-19, with 88 of those in intensive care.
The head of the HSE is warning those numbers are likely to increase, but says it can be turned around with heightened individual and collective awareness
Now 86 patients under intensive critical care with #Covid19. This represents almost 30% of ICU beds. This is likely to increase. None of us want to be that person. We can turn this around with heightened individual and collective awareness over the coming days & weeks. @HSELive
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) October 21, 2021
General Secretary of the INMO, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, told The Pat Kenny Show the situation is precarious.
She suggested the typical winter increase in hospital admissions is happening earlier than ever.
She said: "Our members are telling us, working in hospitals particularly, that the hospitals are very overcrowded.
"Combining that with an airborne infection, we're warning this is extremely, extremely dangerous.
"The staff themselves then, of course, are extremely tired. They're working now in this environment for a very long time.
"In reality, you have a COVID service and a non-COVID service - but you have one workforce."
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said they're already seeing the COVID-19 infection rate among healthcare workers rising over the past month.
She said they've now looking for an "immediate answer" on the prospect of booster shots for healthcare workers, given most would have gotten their first doses early in the year.
The INMO head also warned that many hospitals do not have suitable ventilation to help prevent infections such as COVID.
