{"id":24110,"date":"2021-11-24T08:19:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-24T13:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24110"},"modified":"2021-11-24T09:23:23","modified_gmt":"2021-11-24T14:23:23","slug":"irish-healthcare-system-under-pressure-in-fourth-wave-warns-reid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24110","title":{"rendered":"Irish Healthcare System Under Pressure In Fourth Wave Warns Reid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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HSE chief Paul Reid reported that 5,800 staff are out due to a Covid-19-related absence (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Irish health system remains under \u201cvery serious pressure\u201d, the head of the HSE has warned an Oireachtas committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul Reid appeared before the Joint Committee on Health on Wednesday to discuss the plans to support the health service through the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cWe are now firmly in the midst of a fourth surge in Covid-19 infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe entire health system, both acute hospitals and community, are now under very serious pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast Monday week I briefed the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Covid-19 on the seriousness of the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Government responded with a number of public health measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has also been necessary for the HSE to take immediate measures in response to hospital and ICU pressures, including the short-term prioritization of unscheduled care, and increasing our surge capacity through providing additional beds, particularly in ICU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that the resurgence of the virus, and the response now required, will place even more pressure on staff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another 3,666 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland were confirmed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the latest figures, there are around 638 patients in hospital with coronavirus, 130 of them in intensive care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, Mr Reid tweeted that 5,800 staff are out due to a Covid-19-related absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re surging up on ICU beds & managing huge pressures all across healthcare,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe number of cancellations and non-booking of planned surgery has been growing, due to the growing incidence of Covid-19 in hospitals,\u201d he warned politicians on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around 210,000 Covid-19 lab tests have been completed in the past seven days in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the D\u00e1il on Tuesday, Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin fielded concerns raised by multiple opposition politicians that PCR test capacity is proving inadequate in the face of the fourth wave of the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many pointed to the fact that in much of the country it is hugely difficult to access a PCR test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe winter season in any year presents additional challenges to all health systems around the world with the combination of seasonal viruses, weather-related trauma and illness, longer periods spent indoors with lower levels of ventilation, and seasonal social activity-related presentation,\u201d Mr Reid told the committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPressures associated with winter of 2021-22 are further compounded by the massive increase in Covid-19 infections we are currently experiencing, and the resulting presentations in our emergency departments and onward into our wards and, critically, our intensive care units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmergency departments continue to operate distinct pathways of care for Covid and non-Covid patients, and this places a huge demand on staffing and space available.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Reid said the winter plan will aim to ensure that all patients get the necessary treatment, as well as tackling waiting lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HSE, he said, \u201cwill focus on avoidance of hospital admittance unless absolutely necessary\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that extra Government funding of 200 million euro to support access to care next year \u201cwill be targeted at working through these lists as quickly as possible by making the best use of our own capacity, supplemented and by making arrangements for a substantial number of procedures to be carried out through the contract arrangements with private hospitals\u201d.<\/p>\n

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