The HSE's Director of Acute Hospitals has said about ten surgeries in 21 hospitals are being cancelled per week. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Liam Woods also said 1,000 beds are being used in the private hospital system each week.
These beds are being used, when possible, for diverted emergency services. "Ten per site per week was roughly what we were getting about a week and a half back...
that was across about 21 hospital sites," Mr Woods said. "Covid is very much interrupting the normal service delivery and has done that sadly for almost the last two years now. "We're seeing an increase in ED attendance that’s well above the demographic.