NHS chiefs have warned that the number of flu cases in England’s hospitals has spiked over Christmas and is increasing at a “very alarming rate”.
The latest figures show there were 5,000 virus patients being treated in hospital at the end of last week – about 3.5 times more than in the same week in 2023, although not as many as in 2022.
Emergency doctors told the BBC the pressure on hospitals was “unacceptably dire” and the flu was pushing them to breaking point.
It comes as health officials warn of the impact of extreme cold weather on vulnerable patients and the health system this weekend.
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care, said the figures showed “the flu pressure was nowhere near as low as before the start of the new year, which is a It was reaching over 5,000 cases a day last week and growing at a very relevant rate.”
“With severe cold expected across England before the weekend, we know that low temperatures can be dangerous for people who are vulnerable or have respiratory conditions,” he added.
Professor Redhead says people at risk should try and keep warm and make sure they have any regular medication with them.
Hospitals have added extra beds this year to help deal with the pressure from flu and other winter viruses, including Covid and norovirus (the winter vomiting bug).
There are several hospitals in different regions of England. Limited visits and asked patients and visitors to wear face masks to prevent the spread of the flu virus.
Dr Adrian Boyle, head of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that the pressure on emergency departments was “unacceptably terrible”.
“There was an enormous amount of avoidable harm – more deaths that shouldn’t have happened,” he said.
“Flu is the straw that breaks the camel’s back because we have this chronic shortage of beds in our hospitals and we don’t use those beds properly because we haven’t reformed social care,” he added. .
His criticism comes on the day the Health and Social Care Secretary planned. Adult social care reform in Englandalthough they are unlikely to be delivered before 2028 at the earliest.
In Scotland, there has also been a big increase in the number of people in hospital with the flu. Earlier this week, First Minister John Sweeney said the NHS was under “significant pressure”.
A spokesman for the Welsh Government said urgent and emergency care services continued to have “high levels of demand” this winter and a spike in flu cases over Christmas had added to the pressure.