Explainer: We're into our surge ICU capacity in hospitals - so what does that mean?
Hospitals are under increasing pressure, with patients in all age cohorts needing critical care.
By Michelle Hennessy
Tuesday 19 Jan 2021, 12:05 AM
Jan 19th 2021, 12:05 AM
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Image: Shutterstock
Image: Shutterstock
LAST WEEK THE HSE said hospitals had started moving into their intensive care surge capacity as the number of Covid-19 patients requiring advanced care increased.
Last night there were 330 full-staffed critical care beds open, with 310 of those occupied, including 195 by Covid-19 patients.
The system can surge to 350 patients in ICU, providing the same level of care as traditional intensive care settings, but it is now quickly approaching that number as the situation is likely to further deteriorate over the course of this week.