Flu cases quadruple in England: Hospital beds bursting.
An ambulance parked outside the Great North Trauma and Emergency Centre in the Royal Victoria Infirmary hospital.
Credit: Shutterstock, Hazel Plater
Flu is on the rise, and it’s no minor sniffle – cases have soared to a ‘very concerning rate,’ with hospital beds filling faster than you can say “gesundheit.” NHS England has revealed shocking figures that show flu-related hospital admissions have quadrupled in just a month.
An average of 4,469 flu patients were hospitalised daily last week, including 211 in critical care. Compare that to December 1, when only 1,098 were in hospital. It’s a staggering leap that has health professionals sounding the alarm.
Flu around the UK
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, warned, “Pressure from flu was nowhere near letting up before we headed into the New Year.” He added that cases are rising at a rate that has left health services bracing for a tough winter.
To add fuel to the flu fire, last week’s numbers are also miles above last winter’s figures of 1,312 daily flu patients. While it’s not quite the peak of two years ago (5,441 patients), it’s still enough to make heads- and thermometers – spin.
Virus tag team: Norovirus, RSV, and Covid join the party.
It’s not just flu wreaking havoc. Norovirus, RSV, and Covid-19 are also taking their toll. Hospitals saw:
- 528 beds filled daily with patients suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting, a dip from 723 the previous week but still higher than last year’s 377.
- 74 children were admitted for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), down from 87 the previous week but well above last year’s 50.
- 1,184 Covid-19 patients, a slight drop from 1,277 the week before.
NHS fighting the cold war
To cope with the onslaught, the NHS rolled out an extra 1,300 beds last week compared to the same period last year. And with an icy blast sweeping across England, hospitals are bracing for a surge in cases as vulnerable people struggle with the plummeting temperatures.
Prof Redhead urged the public to act smartly: “Keep warm, stock up on medication, and use NHS 111 for advice. Save 999 and A&E for life-threatening emergencies.”
So, wherever you are, if you’re battling a winter bug, don’t let it escalate. Stay cosy, stay prepared, and remember – this flu season is no joke.
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