Press Release: Friday 2 January 2026
Minister for Health Highlights Robust Measures in Place to Protect Public Health During Winter Season
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has emphasised that our health service is delivering a comprehensive response to protect public health this winter from impacts of an early flu season and expected pressures from RSV and COVID-19.
Influenza activity began earlier than usual, with hospitalisations rising alongside case numbers. Norovirus, a common cause of gastroenteritis, is also circulating at high levels and modelling by the National Health Protection Office indicates significant pressure on healthcare services over the start of 2026.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“I am so grateful to all our healthcare staff for their work over this Christmas period. We have, through systemic change, seen a significant reduction in trolley numbers across the year but particularly over the Christmas period. During December 2025, 28% fewer patients were waiting on trolleys compared to December 2024, despite the pressures of an early and active influenza season.
“We put several measures in place ahead of Christmas including vaccination programmes, extra GP clinics, longer opening hours, and a stronger focus on productivity, to protect the most vulnerable and to protect our health service. Alongside the vaccine programme, we’re also increasing GP capacity with extended hours and weekend appointments and rolling out the Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Plan to improve patient flow and strengthen services across all seven days of the week.
“Together, these steps are helping to reduce pressure on hospitals, support timely care for older and vulnerable patients and keep our health service resilient during this challenging period.
“Vaccination remains central to this effort, and I urge everyone eligible to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. Ahead of the first weekend of 2026, we are asking everyone to choose the right door for your care. Our teams and our service have done well but our work is not over yet.”
A range of actions have been implemented, including:
- Immunisation programmes for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV which have been delivering vaccines and immunisations to vulnerable adults and children since early autumn.
- Implementation of the Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Plan to improve patient flow and deliver timely, appropriate care for older and vulnerable patients.
- Extra GP clinics with extended hours and weekend sessions, to help reduce pressure on Emergency Departments.
- Advice and support to patients on the range of resources available to them for care, including pharmacies, minor injury units and online resources such as HSELive.
Vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce severe illness and protect those most at risk from serious illness caused by winter viruses and the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are urging all eligible individuals to come forward for their flu and COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. Free flu vaccines are available for people aged 60 and over, children aged two–17 years, healthcare workers, and other at-risk groups. COVID-19 vaccines are also available for eligible cohorts. Vaccines protect us, and those around us, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
Coupled with vaccines, simple measures can be taken at home to reduce the spread and risk of serious illness, such as practicing good hand hygiene, coughing or sneezing into elbows and especially staying at home when sick.
The HSE is adding 20,000 clinical hours for respiratory care, with additional GP clinics running from 8 December to 15 February, plus up to 20,000 of extra Out-of-Hours GP hours from 27 December to 26 January.
The Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Plan includes measures to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions, improve emergency department operations, and strengthen seven-day services, including extended hours for senior decision-makers and standardised Injury Unit opening times (8am–8pm, seven days a week, including Bank Holidays).
Further information on vaccine eligibility and clinic locations is available at https://www.hse.ie