Northern Ireland’s hospitals risk being “overwhelmed” by a January Covid-19 spike, health trusts have warned.
Several acute centers are already operating beyond capacity.
Flow of patients through hospital has been “seriously impacted” by pandemic restrictions, a joint statement from the chief executives of six organizations which deliver NHS services said.
They added: “Add pre-existing staffing pressures and staff absence due to Covid-19 infection, or the need to self-isolate, and there is a very real risk that hospitals will be overwhelmed in the event of a further Covid-19 spike in January.
“We are not making this point lightly and as a result, we are appealing to the public to be extremely cautious over the festive period and to take all necessary precautions to stop the virus spreading.”
A circuit-breaker lockdown to slow the spread of the virus which closed non-essential retailers and hospitality venues ended last week.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Northern Ireland branch of the British Medical Association (BMA) has said the “logical decision” is that the North should go into another four weeks of lockdown now.
Dr Tom Black warned that Northern Ireland’s health service was facing into a “nightmare” in January due to coronavirus.
Dr Black said the situation was similar to Germany which was now in lockdown while in contrast in Northern Ireland the hospitality sector was allowed to reopen on Friday.
In normal circumstances the “logical decision” would be to have four more weeks of lockdown, Dr Black told BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show on Monday.
Asked about January, he added: “We have a nightmare ahead of us in the health service, there is no two ways about that. It is always the most difficult time of the year and we are in a pandemic. So, I can’t see any alternative to a very difficult situation in general practice, in A&E departments, in Covid wards, and in intensive therapy.”