Irish paramedics are heading across the border this weekend to help their counterparts in Northern Ireland.
The North's health service is beginning to come under increased pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has confirmed help will be provided but says services here will not be affected.
Queues of ambulances could be seen this week, lined up at accident and emergency departments across Northern Ireland, as patients were treated in car parks due to a lack of capacity inside.
Last night, the head of the HSE Paul Reid tweeted a photo of Irish ambulance crews deployed to Belfast.
He said the move shows that the main priority is safeguarding people's health.
Tonight in Belfast, crews from the Irish National Ambulance Service working alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. People's health taking priority #TeamWork #Proud @AmbulanceNAS @NIAS999 @HSELive #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/PIpcYFihA2
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) December 18, 2020
The HSE says the republic's National Ambulance Service was contacted by their counterparts in Northern Ireland for assistance and several volunteer teams responded, agreeing to help in areas of Belfast, Craigavon and Lisburn across the weekend.
They say the support will not impact in any way on the National Ambulance Service's normal operations here.
Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service says it is very grateful for the dig out.
Chief executive Michael Bloomfield said the move is "relatively unusual" and reflects the pressure they're under.
Yesterday, it was confirmed that Northern Ireland would be entering a six-week lockdown from St Stephen's Day.
