Last winter, less than half of hospital workers contracted the flu

Last winter, less than half of the hospital staff received the influenza vaccine, exposing themselves and the patients to the virus, according to new figures.

A member of the health staff is 10 times more likely than a worker outside the service to contract the flu.

They, in turn, pose a risk to vulnerable patients and their families and immediate colleagues.

The participation of all hospital health workers was only 44.8%, despite the fact that influenza contributes significantly to illnesses and deaths and worsens the trolley crisis.

The HSE has set a modest target of 40% of the staff who received the vaccine.

The highest participation rate was recorded by hospital staff for children.

But it was only 37.1% in Cork and Kerry hospitals, and only 37.1% in the Saolta group in the west of the country, including the overcrowded University Hospital Galway.

Doctors were more likely to receive the flu vaccine than nurses.

Although the influenza vaccine provides only partial protection against the disease, the message is that it's better to have that nothing.

Last year, there were fears about the "Australian flu" which has emerged as a major threat in Australia during the winter.

This year's reports are that the flu season in Australia has been very mild. But that still does not guarantee that the model will be repeated here.

It usually peaks around December and the first few months of the year when A & E departments are the most congested.

Meanwhile, with the number of trucks reaching record levels in August, hospitals are still unsure of the number of extra beds available to ensure that last winter's record overcrowding is not exceeded.

The HSE has submitted a request for approximately 500 additional beds to be put in place during the winter and early next year.

But Health Minister Simon Harris is counting on the 2019 estimates for sufficient funding and there is an additional hurdle in getting enough staff to manage the beds.

The health service forecasts a deficit of 600 million euros and another end-of-year rescue plan.

By the end of June, the HSE would have reported 341.7 million euros in the red.

The main drivers are spent in acute care hospitals, due in part to an increase in the number of elderly patients requiring longer hospital stays with more complex needs.

Since the beginning of the year, people over 75 have had to be hospitalized.

Other pressures that have pushed up bills include increasing the number of emergency spaces for people with disabilities.

Additional costs were also incurred due to orders from the Health Information and Quality Authority to improve conditions and security in long-stay centers, including public retirement homes.

The health service also suffered unexpected expenses from storm Emma and higher payments made by the State Agency for Claims.

Irish Independent