Flu deaths reach 94 as nurses warn of 'dangerous' hospital overcrowding

Phil Ní Sheaghdha: 'On course to be the worst January for overcrowding'. Picture: Gareth Chaney

Deaths from flu continue to rise, with 94 now recorded for the winter as hospitals still face overcrowding and case numbers remain high.

Nurses claim hospital managers are placing very ill patients in high-risk wards against clinical advice. They also say overcrowding has seen more than 10,000 patients on trolleys this month.

High numbers of patients are being treated in public on trolleys or chairs, sometimes in “very clinically dangerous” spaces, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said.

Phil Ní Sheaghdha, the union's general secretary, warned that this month is “on course to be the worst January for overcrowding" since 2006, when records began. 

We are hearing of so many incidents of vulnerable patients being placed on infection control wards, despite high risks identified by nursing staff, who have been overridden by non-clinical staff.

“And this is simply unacceptable to clinical nurses who are obliged to advocate for patients," she said.

She pointed out that nurses will not be sheltering at home during
Storm Éowyn.

Flu numbers remain “very high”, with 524 people admitted to hospitals just last week, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre said on Thursday. 

Some 2,522 cases of flu were reported, and although this is 30% down on the week before, the HSE warned this is still very high.

The number of deaths has steadily increased since 32 were recorded during the first week of January.

Another 594 cases of RSV were reported, with 153 people admitted to hospital. Infections were most often seen among children aged under one year and people aged over 80. 

There were 50 people admitted to hospitals with covid-19 and the HPSC said case numbers remain low also. 

Responding to the INMO claims, a HSE spokeswoman said there has been "a massive, collective effort right across our services" from all staff.

Patients in need of isolation for infection reasons are separated differently in each hospital based on the layout "This is done due to infection prevention control measures and in the interest of patient safety," she said.

WEATHER CENTRE

Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.