The upcoming winter season will put "unprecedented pressure" on a health system that was already unfit for purpose prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has warned.

The IMO, which represents doctors nationwide, has called on the Government to urgently address a number of issues ahead of winter in order to alleviate some of this pressure.

Speaking at a meeting of the Special Committee on COVID-19 Response in the Oireachtas on Wednesday, IMO president, Dr Padraig McGarry, emphasised that all healthcare workers "are striving to do their utmost for patients at this time, but there is real worry about the coming months".

He said that the shortage of consultants is a major concern.

"The ongoing consultant pay disparity has directly led to a severe consultant shortage at a time when we need them most and we have to immediately reverse the politically motivated, inequitable and unfair cut to consultant pay," Dr McGarry insisted.

Hospital consultants employed after October 2012 are paid up to €50,000 less than their colleagues who were appointed before that date. The IMO has long argued that this pay disparity has had a direct impact on the HSE's ability to recruit and retain consultants.

Some 500 consultant posts are currently vacant or staffed on a temporary basis, with many doctors having chosen to emigrate to countries with better pay and conditions.

Dr McGarry also expressed concern about waiting lists and the impact this will have on GPs and the hospital system.

"We are seeing lengthening waiting lists while our bed capacity and ability to schedule outpatient appointments has significantly reduced due to infection control and social distancing guidelines.

"The IMO is hugely disappointed that we have not yet seen a comprehensive modular build programme, which would alleviate the pressure. GPs need to be able to refer patients to acute settings and consultants need to be able to see those patients in a safe and timely manner," Dr McGarry said.

He also described it as "very concerning" that the provision of the flu vaccine has been delayed at a time when COVID-19 cases are increasing.

The HSE informed GP and pharmacists on Wednesday that the release of this season's flu vaccine will be delayed by two weeks, due to an "administrative delay" on the part of the vaccine's manufacturer, Sanofi.

The HSE insisted that this is not a quality or production issue and Ireland will receive stock from the first batches released by Sanofi.

However, Dr McGarry said that this has caused concern because GPs nationwide need to put additional plans in place to be in a position to administer the vaccine, and as a result, they need certainty about supplies and dates.