NHS England on ‘high alert’ as flu admissions surge amid staff strikes | Flu
The NHS is on “high alert” as the number of people hospitalized with flu hit a record high for this time of year, amid continued strike action.
An average of 3,140 people were hospitalized each day with the flu at the end of last week, an 18% increase from the previous week. This time last year, an average of 2,629 patients were hospitalized, while in 2023 that number would be 648.
However, flu cases have started to slow in some parts of the country, although the NHS has stressed the service is “not out of the woods”.
In the North West of England, hospital cases of flu have fallen by 4% over the past week. But flu cases continued to rise in other parts of England, with hospital patients up 39% in the east of England and 40% in the southwest.
The figures come as resident doctors in England begin the second of five days of strike action over a pay dispute.
Professor Meghana Pandit, national medical director of NHS England, said that although flu cases were not rising as quickly as feared in some parts of the country, the NHS was “far from being out of the woods yet”.
“Combined with the impact of strikes, a surge of winter viruses means many hospitals will be on alert in the days to come,” Pandit said. “But it remains vital that people continue to come forward as normal for NHS care.”
Intensive care beds were occupied by 128 flu patients across England last week, up from 106 the week before.
An average of 427 hospital beds were also occupied each day last week by patients suffering from diarrhea, vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, an increase of more than a fifth (21%) from last week.
Just under a third (28%) of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England last week waited at least 30 minutes before entering the emergency room, compared to 32% the week before.
Separate figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show flu hospitalization rates in England have stagnated, at 10.3 admissions per 100,000 last week, down from 10.2 the week before.
People over 85 had the highest admission rate at 64.6 per 100,000 last week, up from 58.1 the week before, while the rate for those aged 75 to 84 was 31.4, broadly unchanged from 31.6.
For children under five, the rate was 27.3 per 100,000, up from 20.3.
Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “As Christmas approaches, it is reassuring to see that flu levels are now starting to stabilise, but flu is notoriously unpredictable and can rebound and reach a second peak in the new year. We therefore urge people to continue to take reasonable measures over the festive period to help stop the spread. »
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Flu continues to put strain on the NHS, with record numbers of patients in hospital and frontline services remaining under enormous pressure. I am calling on the public to protect yourself and your loved ones by getting your flu vaccine.
“The British Medical Association’s regrettable decision to continue strike action at this critical time puts added pressure, but the NHS team has responded brilliantly to keep the show going. Our main aim is to keep patients safe during strikes and this peak period for the NHS.”
