Getty ImagesMore than 400 people who went to emergency departments Sunday night were told they would have to wait at least 12 hours for a hospital bed.
BBC News NI can reveal that at one stage 797 people were waiting in nine emergency departments in Northern Ireland, with more than half needing a bed.
A total of 350 patients were already waiting for more than 12 hours.
While demand is pretty much the same as this time last year, more people are facing longer waits for admission.
The Department of Health said that long-term solutions require sustained investment and reforms.
With the current cold picture in Northern Ireland and flu figures still on the rise, the health service is bracing itself for a tough week ahead. has been
Some of those working at the weekend told BBC News NI that long waits were a concern – as delays made some patients more likely to be harmed.
An Emergency Department (ED) consultant said it was a shame that corridor care had become “almost routine” in emergency medicine.
Another said that unless social care in Northern Ireland is addressed, the Christmas forecast will not change.
Support the military?
Health unions have told BBC News NI that while flu outbreaks were widely predicted, little was done on the ground to deal with the inevitable.
Among the possible scenarios discussed by staff was bringing in the military to provide additional support in wards and ambulatory care during December and January.
It also suggested that the health regulator, the RQIA, should be more flexible about rules in nursing homes that require residents to be referred to EDs rather than receiving care in-house.
To help reduce the spread of infections, including flu, many hospitals in England Hospital visits have been banned. and asked patients and visitors to wear face masks to prevent further spread of the flu.
Freezing conditions will further stress the system with calls for the public to be cautious and think twice about venturing out.
Getty ImagesFigures seen by BBC News NI show the number of people waiting more than 12 hours on Sunday evening was:
- 61 at Craigavon Area Hospital
- 51 at Antrim Area Hospital
- 49 at the Royal Victoria Hospital
- 48 at Ulster Hospital
- 42 at Altnagelvin Hospital
- 35 at Causeway Hospital
- 24 at Daisy Hill Hospital
- 21 m at Infirmorum Hospital
- 19 at Southwestern Acute Hospital
According to the Department of Health, long-term solutions require sustained investment and reform.
A spokeswoman said the demand for care was currently greater than the health service could provide.
The statement added that in recent days, the health minister had met emergency department staff, and held discussions with both the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
“The minister expresses his serious concerns about the impact of the enormous pressure on staff and patients and will be moving forward with further engagement in the coming weeks,” the spokesman said.
Emphasis on vaccines.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) said it is not too late to get people vaccinated against the flu as cases are still on the rise, and it will protect the public and health services beyond the winter months.
Dr Joan McClean, director of public health at the PHA in Northern Ireland, has blamed a shortage of vaccines as one of the reasons for overcrowding in hospitals.
“We’re in the middle of our winter virus season,” he said The BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme.
“All year round our hospitals and EDs are really busy, and during the winter, on top of the normal pressure, we get winter viruses, especially Covid, flu and RSV (sensory syncytial virus).”
Dr. McClain added that one possible reason may be that “people have forgotten that the flu can be a very serious illness.”
“We need to update our flu vaccine every year because the flu changes every year.”