Warning about 'fragile' health care system amid flu surge

The health care system in Northern Ireland "is so fragile" that it would only take "one thing to knock it over", the executive director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Northern Ireland has said.

It comes amid a surge in flu cases adding to pressures on hospitals and front-line staff with some health trusts encouraging mask wearing in a bid to combat rising winter viruses.

Several care homes in Northern Ireland have advised families not to visit loved ones as they attempt to protect residents from the current outbreak of the flu virus.

Rita Devlin of the RCN said: "The difficulty is we just have to keep on pushing through and try as far as possible to look after patients."

Ms Devlin added: "It's a huge toll on the wellbeing of the staff who are trying to deliver that care in the most awful of circumstances and environments."

"With the earlier onset of flu, what we saw in January of last year, we are seeing that early December."

Almost 80% of care home residents have been vaccinated but it is understood there has not been the same take up among the workforce.

BBC News NI understands that at this stage the number of homes affected is not being regarded as a major issue but it is an indication of the impact the virus is having in caring for vulnerable men and women.

One source said they were concerned if staff sickness in care homes continued there would be issues around providing safe and sustainable care.

The Department of Health (DoH) has issued guidance to care homes about using face masks.

The western trust has asked all staff, patients and visitors to its emergency departments, wards and clinical areas to also wear masks.

The southern and northern trusts have issued similar appeals for people visiting emergency departments.

The impact on home care or domiciliary services is at this stage unclear but as in most sectors many social care staff are also floored by this strain of flu and unable to work.

Figures released on Thursday show there were 1,184 new cases identified in the first week of December.

Last week, a paediatric emergency medicine consultant told BBC News NI that this season was the "most severe influenza outbreak" she has experienced.

Dr Eoghan Ferrie is a consultant at emergency departments and a senior medical officer at the Department of Health.

He told Good Morning Ulster that the situation over the last couple of weeks has been "very challenging" at the Royal Victoria and the Mater hospitals in Belfast.

"It is a difficult situation, but the staff are doing their utmost to try and manage it as best they can.

He said: "We face challenges of demand outstripping capacity on a week-by-week basis throughout the year," but added that illnesses, like flu, "adds to the pressures".

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has appealed for everyone who is eligible for a vaccine to get one.

Dr Joanne McClean, its director, said the vaccine was the best defence against seasonal flu.

"We must not underestimate the seriousness of seasonal flu.

"It can result in hospitalisation, even for some otherwise healthy people. We have enough stock of vaccine for eligible people to avail of the offer."

Dr McClean told The Nolan Show that the flu vaccination programme is complete in the western, northern and south-eastern trusts.

In the southern trust, Dr McClean said she understood there are two schools where the vaccination programme is not complete as there is "some difficulty in getting dates agreed".

She said that the PHA had asked them "to consider alternative arrangements".

In the Belfast trust, she said the programme "will be complete by the end of next week" in all but four schools as they have not been able to secure dates with them.

However, Dr McClean said alternative arrangements had been put in place and a Saturday clinic would run on 13 and 20 December.

Dr McClean also said that all but two care homes have had their vaccine programmes rolled out.

She said her understanding was that this was because of "an administrative error".

Dr McClean said that this has been "escalated" and will be raised with the RQIA.

She said "teams are ready to go in" to the care homes and she expects that in the next few days the roll out will be complete.

Sheelin McKeagney is a community pharmacist based in Lurgan, County Armagh.

He said there was "absolutely no problem getting vaccines" for people who are vulnerable, but added that "there's been a massive surge in demand" for people who choose to pay for vaccines.

He said pharmacies had vaccines "in preparation for this," but "lots of those have now been used up and many pharmacies are waiting on further supply".

John Compton is a former chief executive of the Health and Social Care Board. He said the number of people with the flu is likely to go up.

"I suspect it's still a couple of weeks away before the flu peaks," he said.

"Traditionally the busiest time of the year for our hospital sector is just after Christmas."

He added that "already things are pretty busy and pretty difficult".

"I suspect it will be a very difficult winter for our health system and for patients and families who are using it."