Hospital admissions for flu quadruple in England as NHS bosses warn of ‘huge’ strains
The number of people admitted to hospital with flu in England has quadrupled in a month as health leaders said the “enormous” pressure within the NHS will only worsen as temperatures drop this weekend.
Figures from NHS England show that there were 4,102 patients in hospital with flu on Christmas Day, a sharp increase to 5,074 on Sunday 29 December.
Last week, an average of 4,469 flu patients were in hospital every day, of which 211 were in intensive care.
This was 17% more than the 3,818 the week before, when 184 people were in intensive care, and was more than four times the figure on December 1, when the figure was 1,098. However, the figure was lower than this point in 2022, when it was 5,441.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the public should be “under no illusions” that the NHS was now in “a position of national vulnerability” under “intense” pressure.
“These winter statistics confirm what local NHS leaders have told us directly in recent days – that the NHS is facing huge demand, from sicker patients, with very high levels of flu to deal with,” he said.
“The next two to three weeks are likely to be the busiest time of the year for many local services and we need to recognize the pressure this will place on staff and services.”
Adam Brimelow, from NHS Providers, said: “These figures show that services are under relentless pressure and it looks like things will get worse before they get better. This week’s cold snap is likely to increase the already huge demand for NHS services.”
The data also showed that an average of 528 hospital beds in England were filled each day last week by patients with diarrhea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, up from 723 the week before, but higher than the equivalent figure at this point last winter (377). and two years ago (338).
There were also an average of 74 children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on hospital wards in England last week, down from 87 the week before, but higher than at this point a year ago (50).
The number of hospital beds occupied each day by patients who tested positive for Covid-19 averaged 1,184, down week on week from 1,277.
Prof. Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent care, said the figures “show that the pressure of flu was far from subsiding before we entered the new year” and that cases were “rising at a very worrying rate” .
He added: “On top of the flu, there is also continued pressure from Covid, while hospital cases of RSV and norovirus are also higher than last year, with hospitals adding 1,300 more beds last week than the same period last year in anticipation of this. continued pressure from viruses and other demand.
“With what looks like an extreme cold snap expected across England this weekend, we know that the low temperatures can be dangerous for those who are vulnerable or have breathing problems, so if you are at risk, try to stay warm and make sure you have any regular medications available.
“Continue to use NHS 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health problems, and only use 999 or go to A&E in life-threatening emergencies.”