Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced a series of measures amid ongoing concerns about winter pressures on health services in Northern Ireland, including long waits at hospital emergency departments.
Officials from the Department of Health say it has been the worst year for flu cases since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but believe the number of hospital admissions has peaked.
Appearing before Stormont's Health Committee on Tuesday, Mr Nesbitt has announced that the flu vaccination programme would be extended to all those over the age of 50 - previously it was only available for all adults aged 65 years and over.
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He said: "Flu vaccines will now be available to the over 50s, ie, the age group 50 to 64. That is a new development. Having prioritised those most at risk and healthcare workers, I am now in a position to widen the reach of the flu vaccination programme."
The Public Health Agency (PHA) has renewed an appeal for people eligible for a winter vaccine to come forward as emergency departments remain under severe pressure this week. Health officials are urging everyone to take steps to reduce the spread of flu, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – particularly by getting vaccinated if you are eligible.
This reduces the risk of illness for you and those around you, and can also help with wider pressures on our health service this New Year. The PHA is also reassuring everyone who is eligible for vaccination under the free HSC programme that sufficient stock of vaccines is available, so they shouldn’t delay in getting them
Dr Joanne McClean, director of public health at the PHA, told MLAs on Tuesday that it had been the worst year for flu since the Covid-19 pandemic and “significantly” worse than last year.
“(The) flu kind of went away during Covid because we were all doing social distancing and all those things. So flu didn’t really spread. It came back with a bit of a vengeance in 22/23 and we saw quite high numbers of admissions. Last year we had flu, but not to the same levels. This year, we’ve had much more flu, and flu has reached a higher peak than it did in 22/23."
Mr Nesbitt also announced on Tuesday that the Pharmacy First for Sore Throat Service, currently being offered by community pharmacies across Northern Ireland since December 1, will not end in late January 2025 as planned but will instead run until the end of March.
Anyone aged 5 years and above with a sore throat can access the service in a participating pharmacy. The pharmacist will offer a confidential consultation in a private area of the pharmacy where they will discuss how you are feeling and the symptoms you are experiencing.
The pharmacist may carry out a test, usually a throat swab, to help diagnose the cause of the sore throat if needed. Not everyone will need one. Treatment is available free of charge to relieve symptoms such as pain and fever. The pharmacist will also offer advice.
Meanwhile, the Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland (RCGPNI) has said GPs are “working beyond capacity”.
RCGPNI chair Dr Ursula Mason said: “The testimonies of patients attending emergency departments this winter are harrowing and are unfortunately mirrored by those of our colleagues working in such difficult conditions. It is imperative that a long-term solution to capacity is found, but efforts must continue for short term and in-year mitigations.
“While colleagues in EDs are under immense pressure to meet demand, GPs too are seeing a similar surge. Already facing into winter with year-long capacity concerns, we are now under additional pressure to see and deal with more and more this winter.”
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