Hospitals across England are on high alert this week as rising levels of winter viruses drive intense pressure on NHS services.
New NHS data shows that 3,140 flu patients were in hospital at the end of last week – the highest number ever recorded for this time of year, and an 18% increase on the previous week. At the same time, daily hospital cases of norovirus and diarrhoea and vomiting rose to 427, marking a 20% week‑on‑week increase.
Despite the overall rise, there are early signs that the increase in flu admissions may be starting to slow, particularly in the North West, where flu cases in hospital fell by 4% last week. Health officials believe this is linked to stronger flu vaccine uptake and the public taking extra precautions to protect vulnerable people.
More than 18 million people have now received their flu jab – 306,000 more than at this point last year – but England’s top doctor has warned that the NHS is “not out of the woods yet.”
Flu hospitalisations continue to climb sharply in other regions, up 39% in the East of England and 40% in the South West.
Beds across England’s hospitals were 94.2% occupied on average last week – an exceptionally high level for winter and one that severely limits flexibility during surges in demand.
Staff sickness is also rising:
- 1,100 more staff were off compared with the previous week
- Absence levels are up 4,500 (9%) compared with the same week two years ago
NHS National Medical Director, Professor Meghana Pandit, said:
“While some parts of the country will be breathing a sigh of relief with flu cases not rising as quickly as feared, we are nowhere near out of the woods yet.
“Combined with the impact of strikes, a stream of winter viruses means many hospitals will be on high alert in the days ahead.
“But it remains vital that people continue to come forward for NHS care as normal.”
Despite the pressures, there has been some positive progress. Average ambulance handover times were nearly eight minutes faster last week than during the same period last year, showing that NHS teams are working intensely to keep services moving.
With ongoing industrial action and sustained winter virus activity, the NHS is urging patients not to delay coming forward for care, stressing that people should continue to access urgent and emergency services when needed.
Health leaders continue to encourage vaccination, hand hygiene, and staying home when ill to help protect the NHS and reduce virus transmission over the coming weeks.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting added:
“Flu continues to put significant strain on the NHS, with record numbers of patients in hospital, and frontline services remaining under enormous pressure. I’m appealing to the public to protect yourself and your loved ones by getting your flu jab.
“I want to thank NHS staff who are going above and beyond at the toughest time of year. Thanks to their hard work and careful planning, ambulance handovers are around eight minutes quicker than this time last year.”
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