Minister for Health Highlights Robust Measures in Place to Protect Public Health During Winter Season

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has emphasised that our health service is delivering a comprehensive response to protect public health this winter from impacts of an early flu season and expected pressures from RSV and COVID-19.

Influenza activity began earlier than usual, with hospitalisations rising alongside case numbers. Norovirus, a common cause of gastroenteritis, is also circulating at high levels and modelling by the National Health Protection Office indicates significant pressure on healthcare services over the start of 2026.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said:

A range of actions have been implemented, including:

• Immunisation programmes for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV which have been delivering vaccines and immunisations to vulnerable adults and children since early autumn.
• Implementation of the Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Plan to improve patient flow and deliver timely, appropriate care for older and vulnerable patients.
• Extra GP clinics with extended hours and weekend sessions, to help reduce pressure on Emergency Departments.
• Advice and support to patients on the range of resources available to them for care, including pharmacies, minor injury units and online resources such as HSELive.

Vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce severe illness and protect those most at risk from serious illness caused by winter viruses and the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are urging all eligible individuals to come forward for their flu and COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. Free flu vaccines are available for people aged 60 and over, children aged two–17 years, healthcare workers, and other at-risk groups. COVID-19 vaccines are also available for eligible cohorts. Vaccines protect us, and those around us, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

Coupled with vaccines, simple measures can be taken at home to reduce the spread and risk of serious illness, such as practicing good hand hygiene, coughing or sneezing into elbows and especially staying at home when sick.

The HSE is adding 20,000 clinical hours for respiratory care, with additional GP clinics running from 8 December to 15 February, plus up to 20,000 of extra Out-of-Hours GP hours from 27 December to 26 January.

The Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Plan includes measures to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, improve emergency department operations, and strengthen seven-day services, including extended hours for senior decision-makers and standardised Injury Unit opening times (8am–8pm, seven days a week, including Bank Holidays).

Further information on vaccine eligibility and clinic locations is available at https://www.hse.ie

Implementation of the Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Plan 2025/26

• Provisional data shows that nationally there was an 11% reduction in patients waiting on trolleys at 8am in 2025, compared to 2024.
• This is despite a 4% increase in the number of all attendances, with an 8% increase in the number of over 75’s compared to the same period last year.
• There was a 28% reduction in patients waiting on trolleys at 8am in December 2025 compared to December 2024.
• Provisional data indicates there was a 1% increase in ED attendances for December 2025 compared to December 2024, with a 4% increase in the number of over 75’s in the same time period (subject to validation)
• This can be of particular concern when related to the most vulnerable amongst us, the over 75 cohort, who tend to present with greater acuity and complexity which can result in longer stays.
• The Government is committed to delivering safe and timely healthcare to all patients but particularly, the most vulnerable. A key target of the HSE’s current Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Operational Plan 2025/2026 is to ensure 99% of elderly patients are either admitted or discharged from the ED within 24 hours.
• The UEC Plan provides a comprehensive framework, covering hospital avoidance, ED operations, in-hospital care delivery, and discharge management.
• The third iteration of the UEC Plan also includes targeted actions and reform initiatives such as providing additional and extended hours for senior decision makers and staff integral to supporting 7/7 operations; and standardising the opening hours of all Injury Units to provide a 7-day service, 8am to 8pm, including Bank Holidays.

Immunisation programmes

• The HSE is offering free flu vaccines at participating GP clinics, pharmacies, and community health centres.
• All healthcare workers are recommended to get the flu vaccine. Vaccination clinics will take place in many workplaces across the country. Healthcare workers can also get their vaccine in the community at participating GP clinics and pharmacies.
• The children’s flu vaccine is also available for all children aged two to 17 years from participating GPs and pharmacies.

Expanded GP clinics

• The Health Service Executive (HSE) will support GP practices across the country to provide, further to their daytime normal surgery hours, additional in-person sessions for respiratory/acute consultations.
• These clinics may be provided from 7am to 9am and 5pm to 7pm on weekdays and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. This will total an additional 20,000 clinical hours to target respiratory issues, with these additional clinics running from 8 December to 15 February. It is anticipated that approximately 140,000 patients will be seen at the additional GP clinics, including over 90,000 public patients (medical card and GP visit card holders).

Advice and support to patients

• Advice, support and care is available through a range of resources, including in pharmacies, minor injury units and through online resources such as HSELive.