The National Health Service (NHS) in England has reported a significant rise in flu cases, with a marked increase during the Christmas and New Year period. New data from the NHS reveals a surge in hospitalisations, with over 5,000 patients admitted with the flu by the end of last week.
As of 29th December 2024, there were on average 4,469 patients with the flu in hospital each day. This figure was nearly 3.5 times higher than the same week in 2023. Of these, 211 were in critical care.
The data also highlighted that 4,102 people were in hospital with the flu on Christmas Day, rising sharply by almost a quarter to 5,074 by Sunday, 29th December 2024.
Hospitals are continuing to face pressure from multiple viruses. For example, in the week ending 22nd December 2024, an average of 723 patients were admitted for norovirus. This number dropped slightly, but it remained 40% higher than the 378 recorded during the same week in 2023.
Additionally, there were an average of 74 children with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in hospital each day last week, a 50% increase from the previous year, as well as an average of 1,184 beds occupied by patients with Covid.
In preparation for the expected winter pressures, the NHS had 1,301 more beds available last week than during the same period last year (101,309 vs 100,008). The average number of occupied beds was 648 higher compared to 2023 (90,200 vs 89,552).
Professor Julian Redhead, the NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, commented, “These latest figures show that the pressure from flu is far from letting up. It has skyrocketed to over 5,000 cases a day in hospital as of the end of last week, and the rate of increase is concerning.” He added that in addition to flu, hospitals are also managing ongoing pressures from Covid, RSV, and norovirus, with extra beds being added to cope with the demand.
With temperatures expected to drop below freezing across England, cold weather health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Professor Redhead urged those at risk, particularly those with respiratory conditions, to keep warm and ensure they have sufficient medication.
Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting, acknowledged the unprecedented pressure on the NHS, saying, “The tidal wave of flu this winter has led to more than three times the number of patients in hospital compared with last year, placing enormous strain on the NHS.”
He also highlighted the government’s efforts to tackle the crisis, including ending the strikes, introducing a new RSV vaccine, and providing additional funding to the NHS. However, he stressed that long-term solutions would require reform of both the NHS and the social care system, noting, “There is no solution to the NHS crisis that doesn’t also address the social care crisis.”
