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Northern Ireland\u2019s hospitals risk being \u201coverwhelmed\u201d by a January Covid-19 spike, health trusts have warned.<\/p>\nNorthern Ireland\u2019s hospitals risk being \u201coverwhelmed\u201d by a January Covid-19 spike, health trusts have warned.<\/p>\n
Several acute centers are already operating beyond capacity.<\/p>\n
Flow of patients through hospital has been \u201cseriously impacted\u201d by pandemic restrictions, a joint statement from the chief executives of six organizations which deliver NHS services said.<\/p>\n
They added: \u201cAdd 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
A circuit-breaker lockdown to slow the spread of the virus which closed non-essential retailers and hospitality venues ended last week.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Northern Ireland branch of the British Medical Association (BMA) has said the \u201clogical decision\u201d is that the North should go into another four weeks of lockdown now.<\/p>\n
Dr Tom Black warned that Northern Ireland\u2019s health service was facing into a \u201cnightmare\u201d in January due to coronavirus.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In normal circumstances the \u201clogical decision\u201d would be to have four more weeks of lockdown, Dr Black told BBC Radio Ulster\u2019s Nolan Show on Monday.<\/p>\n
Asked about January, he added: \u201cWe 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\u2019t see any alternative to a very difficult situation in general practice, in A&E departments, in Covid wards, and in intensive therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n