Average of 3,140 people in hospital with flu each day last week, an all-time high for this time of year…reports Asian Lite News
The NHS has been placed on high alert as hospital admissions for flu reach their highest level ever for this point in the winter, even as rates begin to slow in parts of England. The pressure comes as resident doctors embark on a fresh round of strike action, compounding strain on frontline services.
The NHS is on “high alert” after the number of people in hospital with flu climbed to a record level for this time of year, according to the latest weekly data, with the situation unfolding alongside ongoing industrial action by resident doctors in England.
By the end of last week, an average of 3,140 people were being treated in hospital for flu each day, representing an 18% rise on the previous week. The figure is significantly higher than at the same point last winter, when an average of 2,629 patients were hospitalised with flu, and far above levels seen in 2023, when the daily average stood at 648.
While health leaders say there are early signs that the rapid rise in cases may be slowing in some areas, they have warned that the health service remains under severe pressure and should not assume the worst has passed. The NHS has stressed that it is “not out of the woods”, particularly as winter viruses continue to circulate and staff shortages linked to strikes take effect.
Regional data highlight a mixed picture across England. In the north-west, hospital flu cases fell by 4% over the past week, suggesting some easing of pressure. However, flu admissions continued to rise sharply elsewhere, increasing by 39% in the east of England and by 40% in the south-west over the same period. Health officials say this uneven pattern means hospitals in many areas are still bracing for sustained demand.
The latest figures coincide with the start of the second of five days of strike action by resident doctors in England, who are taking industrial action as part of an ongoing dispute over pay. NHS leaders have warned that the combination of high flu admissions and workforce disruption could leave many hospitals operating under heightened pressure in the days ahead.
Prof Meghana Pandit, the NHS England national medical director, said that although flu cases were not rising as quickly as feared in some parts of the country, the situation remained serious. “Combined with the impact of strikes, a stream of winter viruses means many hospitals will be on high alert in the days ahead,” she said. “But it remains vital that people continue to come forward for NHS care as normal.”
The strain is also being felt in critical care. Last week, 128 flu patients were occupying critical care beds across England, up from 106 the previous week. Hospitals are also dealing with a rise in other winter illnesses, with an average of 427 beds filled each day by patients suffering from diarrhoea, vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms. This represents an increase of more than a fifth, or 21%, compared with the week before.
Despite these pressures, some indicators suggest modest improvements in parts of the urgent care system. Just under a third of patients arriving by ambulance waited at least 30 minutes before entering A&E last week, with 28% facing such delays. This was down from 32% in the previous week, although waiting times remain a significant concern.
Separate data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that overall hospital admission rates for flu in England have plateaued. Last week, the rate stood at 10.3 admissions per 100,000 people, compared with 10.2 the week before. However, the burden remains particularly high among older age groups. People aged over 85 recorded the highest admission rate, at 64.6 per 100,000, up from 58.1 the previous week. Among those aged 75 to 84, the rate was 31.4, broadly unchanged from 31.6. For children under five, admissions rose to 27.3 per 100,000, up from 20.3.
Dr Alex Allen, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said that while the stabilisation of flu levels offered some reassurance, there was still a risk of renewed increases. “With Christmas just around the corner, it’s reassuring to see that flu levels are now starting to stabilise, but flu is notoriously unpredictable and can bounce back and peak a second time in the new year, and so we’re urging people to continue taking sensible steps over the festive period to help stop the spread,” he said.
The health secretary, Wes Streeting, said flu continued to place “significant strain” on the NHS, with record numbers of patients in hospital and frontline services under “enormous pressure”. He urged the public to take protective measures, including getting vaccinated.
