At the HSE’s winter briefing in Dublin today, health officials said that the number of people on trolleys in emergency departments for the year to date stood at 113,059, some 13,513 — or 13.6%, more than the previous year’s figure. Roughly 50% of those people presenting at emergency departments across the country have done so as a result of the flu, Minister for Health Simon Harris told the briefing. Overall the numbers of people on trolleys in emergency departments over the past week is up 641 versus the same week in 2018 — an increase of 118%. Minister Harris said of the early onset of flu season that there was “no doubt that this is going to put significant pressure on our health service". The briefing heard that 18 people have died from the flu virus to date this year, which is broadly in line with previous years.

Source: Irish Examiner December 27, 2019 16:07 UTC