Dublin: The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has issued a stark warning ahead of the anticipated arrival of the Australian flu, calling for urgent action to prevent severe hospital overcrowding this winter.
Australian flu is already spreading extensively, with more than 307,000 cases reported as of August 25, compared to 365,000 cases last year—the highest figure since the pandemic.
Ireland’s health system is already under strain. This month alone, over 8,000 patients have experienced hospital bed shortages, with more than 1,000 waiting for treatment at University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway. INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha described the situation as “alarming and deeply concerning,” particularly for elderly patients facing long delays and inadequate care.
“Hospitals in the west and mid-west are the most overcrowded,” Ní Sheaghdha warned. “This year’s flu season is expected to be record-breaking, and our Australian colleagues are sounding the alarm. Ireland’s public health system is not equipped to cope with the influx of patients we are likely to see in the coming months.”
The INMO has urged the Health Service Executive (HSE) and local health authorities to produce detailed hospital-by-hospital plans to ease congestion, reduce the number of patients left waiting on trolleys, and cut delays in accessing treatment. Failure to do so, Ní Sheaghdha cautioned, would result in a “huge crisis” that places both patients and frontline staff at risk.
The organisation also renewed its call for additional hospital staff and the elimination of bureaucratic delays in appointments, stressing the need for swift, meaningful measures to guarantee safe care environments for patients and healthcare workers alike.
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