The HSE has said that last week there were over 30,100 emergency department attendances, the highest on record.
The interim Chief Executive of the HSE Stephen Mulvany has said that the pressure on the health service is significant but that it would seek to minimise any curtailment of planned procedures during the winter period.
The HSE is holding a media briefing to provide an update on health services and the HSE winter plan.
Mr Mulvany said that so far this year there have been one million emergency department attendances.
Compared with the pre-Covid-19 year of 2019, he said this was a 5% increase.
Mr Mulvany said the increased pressure is also due to the increased population and the increase in the elderly population was at a faster rate.
Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, said the three main viruses this season are Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), influenza and Covid-19.
He said that RSV mostly affects young children and adults are not generally affected.
The influenza season is early and 126 cases were reported last week, with 43 patients hospitalised.
There was one influenza death in the past week.
Dr Henry said there was currently no new Covid-19 variant of concern.
Damien McCallion, HSE Chief Operations Officer, said that last week saw 30,120 emergency department attendances.
