Flu patient numbers in English hospitals fall for second straight week | Hospitals
The number of people hospitalized with flu in England has fallen for the second week in a row, NHS figures show, as England’s top doctor said the health service is “far from complacent” as a cold snap takes hold.
An average of 2,676 flu patients were hospitalized each day during the week ending December 28, a 13% decrease from 3,061 the previous week.
This figure had previously been on an upward trend, reaching 3,140 in the week ending December 14. Last winter, the weekly number of flu cases in England peaked at 5,408 patients.
A total of 128 flu patients were in intensive care beds in England last week, up from 117 the week before.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued orange and yellow cold health alerts for England as temperatures fall below freezing, which could increase pressure on hospitals.
Professor Meghana Pandit, National Medical Director of the NHS, said: “It is good news to see a fall in the number of people admitted to hospital with flu, partly thanks to the extraordinary efforts of NHS staff with more than half a million more people vaccinated against flu compared to the same time last year.
“The NHS is far from complacent as temperatures drop, potentially increasing pressures in the new year and demand for services remaining high, with NHS 111 services recording their second busiest day in two years on Saturday.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Despite all the challenges facing the NHS this winter, the herculean efforts of NHS staff and our investment and modernization mean that hospital bed occupancy rates are lower than this time last year and ambulance transfer performance is improving.
“But we are still facing intense pressures, and with this bitter cold snap adding further challenges, it is more vital than ever that eligible people get the flu vaccine and that people only go to emergency departments in an emergency. Let’s all join NHS staff in doing everything we can to protect ourselves and our families during a difficult winter so that NHS services are free for those who really need them.”
An average of 284 hospital beds were occupied each day last week by patients suffering from diarrhea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms. This figure remains broadly unchanged from the previous week’s average of 285 patients and well below the figure of 427 patients a fortnight ago.
The data was published in the latest weekly overview of hospital performance in England this winter.
The NHS situation report also shows that 18% of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England last week waited at least 30 minutes before being handed over to A&E teams. That’s down from 22% the week before and is the lowest figure so far this winter.
Four percent of ambulance transfers last week, or 3,359 patients, were delayed by more than an hour, down from 5% the week before and also the lowest level recorded so far this winter.
