NHS warn of 'skyrocketing' flu cases as hospitalisations quadruple in a month
The number of patients in hospitals in England with flu has quadrupled in the last month, the NHS has said.
NHS England data shows an average of 4,469 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week, compared to just under 1,100 on December 1.
The number of people in critical care for flu is also rising, up 17% last week compared to the week before.
Experts say the rise it 'very concerning.'
When compared with last winter, the average number of flu patients in hospital in England each day last week is up sharply on the equivalent week last year when the average was 1,312.
However, it is lower than this point two years ago, when the figure stood at 5,441.
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: “These latest figures show the pressure from flu was nowhere near letting up before we headed into the new year, skyrocketing to over 5,000 cases a day in hospital as of the end of last week and rising at a very concerning rate.
“With what looks like an extreme cold snap expected right across England ahead of the weekend, we know the low temperatures can be dangerous for those who are vulnerable or have respiratory conditions.
"So if you are at risk, do try and keep warm and make sure you are stocked up on any regular medication."
Meanwhile, the number of hospital beds in England filled by patients with norovirus-like symptoms was an average of 538 per day last week - down slightly from the week before, but much higher than the average from this time last year, which was 377.
The average number of children with RSV and beds occupied by Covid patients last week is also slightly down on the week before.
It comes after the NHS warned it is "busier than ever before" this winter, warning of a "quad-demic" situation involving four of the most common winter viruses - influenza virus, RSV, coronavirus and norovirus.
Those who are eligible, and NHS staff, are being urged to get vaccinations without delay as virus levels rise and pressure remains on the country's hospitals.
Professor Redhead added: “On top of flu there is also continual pressure from Covid, while RSV and norovirus hospital cases are also higher than last year, with hospitals putting in place an extra 1,300 beds last week than the same time last year in expectation of this continued pressure from viruses and other demand."
The data for England further shows that around 32% of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England last week waited at least 30 minutes to be handed over to A&E teams.
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This is down from about 37% in the previous week, but higher than the equivalent week last winter, when the proportion stood at 28.9%.
Some 12,229 patients, were delayed by more than an hour, down from 16.3% the previous week but higher than this point a year ago (11.7%).
NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said the next few weeks are set to be the busiest of the year for local services, placing strain on staff.
He added: “The NHS has done all it can in advance to mitigate risks to patients this winter, but we should be under no illusions that the service is in a position of national vulnerability as the intense pressures we are now seeing start to grip local services.
“These winter stats bear out what local NHS leaders have been telling us directly in recent days – that the NHS is facing huge demand, from sicker patients, with very high levels of flu to deal with."
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