DOCTORS are already "exhausted and deeply demoralised" ahead of an expected surge in Covid-19 admissions, the British Medical Association has warned.
The latest surge of the disease is expected to hit its peak this week.
Health Minister Robin Swann said earlier this month that modelling suggested the "peak of the third surge" would hit in the third week of January.
Dr Tom Black, head of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland, said its members were deeply concerned.
"We have already seen the health service come under pressure recently with calls for additional staff to voluntarily come into work, but is likely that over the next few weeks doctors will be asked to work in a new location or provide support to areas that are very overstretched," he said.
"Many have already had planned annual leave cancelled."
He said a recent BMA survey found that 46 per cent of doctors said they were not able to give care to the standard they would want.
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Dr Black said many decisions on how to deal with the pandemic were "made too late".
"I have no doubt that when we come to review the way we have handled the pandemic this phase will stand out as one where we could have planned better," he said.
He said the BMA is reissuing information to members today "about ethical decision-making in the event that doctors are having to consider prioritising patients for treatment".
He added: "We have also co-signed a letter to the health minister asking for emergency legislation to be put in place that will protect doctors and nurses from "inappropriate" legal action when dealing with circumstances outside their control."
Dr Black warned that Covid is still highly prevalent and people need to get a second dose of a vaccine before they have "optimal immunity".
"There seems to be a sense in some quarters that 'it’s all over' but that is very much not the case," he said.
