ICU nurse: Doctors may have to 'review ICU criteria' if cases continue

An intensive care nurse has warned doctors may be forced to make difficult decisions, if pressures continue to mount on our health service, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday the daily Coronavirus death toll hit double figures for the first time since May.

Inpatients jumped to 360 and there were reports of widespread staff shortages.

Health Minister Robin Swann said plans are in place to ramp up capacity:

"I can confirm that the system will be increasing its ICU capacity in the coming days, in line with our surge planning.

"We have the flexibility to add extra ICU beds as required in line with the situation on the ground."

However, one nurse who spoke to Downtown Cool FM said that will not help address the current staffing crisis:

"We're getting to the stage where nearly one floor of the Nightingale will be full up and then we'll have to open another floor and then there's the whole issue of staffing that because we're already stretched on the existing floor.

"And then if they increase the number of patients that you have to oversee as a nurse, the numbers could be increased to three or four and it will be increasingly hard.

"You'll be prioritising your care, to try and keep on top of everything."