Health chiefs have warned of further surgery cancellations across Northern Ireland as staff are diverted to treat increasing numbers of Covid-19 patients in intensive care.
The Health and Social Care Board said action was needed to increase ICU capacity in hospitals across the region and the only way to achieve that was to redeploy specialist staff working in other areas of the healthcare system.
The board also expressed concern at increasing numbers of unvaccinated young people and pregnant women being admitted to hospital with Covid-19.
It said there had been instances of unvaccinated pregnant women needing ICU care and emergency caesarean sections. The board said that of all Covid-19 patients in ICU on Thursday, 60% were not vaccinated