The HSE is aiming to hire an additional 12,500 thousand people as part of their Winter Plan.
The Health Service Executive says doctors, nurses, contact tracers and swabbers will be recruited on a rolling basis well into next year.
Meanwhile, it is promising that almost 900 acute hospital beds will be open throughout the winter months.
The plan promises to add 483 beds acute beds to existing beds, 251 this year, plus 232 early next year.
The 2020/2021 Winter Plan is coming at a cost of around €600 million.
There's a big emphasis on increasing the uptake of the flu vaccine and the HSE says "Maximisation of the uptake of the flu vaccine amongst health care workers is an absolute priority".
Testing and contact tracing capacity will remain at 100,000 per week.
HSE CEO Paul Reid says "This winter is going to be more difficult than any we’ve ever faced before. We are living with COVID-19, we are living differently, however we have planned differently and we have to take confidence in our Winter Plan. By ensuring agility and innovative healthcare measures, we can prioritise the health and wellbeing of our staff and the public, through the provision of healthcare pathways in the community and in our hospitals.
I am asking the public to follow the public health advice, the worst thing we can do is to get complacent. I am also asking those within the priority groups to ensure they get the flu vaccine and give themselves the best opportunity to stay well this winter.”
