Super flu’ wave hits hospitals in England with no peak yet

The number of patients hospitalized in England with flu has risen by more than 50% in the past week, with NHS bosses warning there is no sign of a ‘super flu’ spike yet.

In the week leading up to Sunday, there were an average of 2,660 flu cases a day in hospital – and NHS England said the numbers had continued to rise this week.

NHS England said this was the equivalent of having three hospitals full of flu patients, with some reporting almost one in ten beds were occupied by patients with the virus.

Officials said the numbers continued to rise this week amid fears they could surpass 5,000 by the weekend. Increases are also being reported in other parts of the UK.

Children and young people aged five to 14 had the highest flu positivity rates in England.

But when it comes to those most affected or sickest, flu hospitalization rates in England are highest among people over 75 and children under five.

NHS England medical director Professor Meghana Pandit said: “This unprecedented wave of super-flu leaves the NHS facing the worst-case scenario for this time of year – with staff stretched to their limits to continue providing the best possible care to patients. »

The number of hospitalizations for flu is at its highest level at this time of year since records began – although they only go back to 2021 and therefore do not take into account the two worst flu seasons in the last 15 years, observed in 2014-15 and 2017-18.

Flu rates began rising a month earlier than normal this year, due to a mutated strain of the virus. The dominant strain is H3N2, but it has some genetic changes this year.

This means the general public has never encountered this exact version of the flu before, meaning there may be less immunity.

NHS England said the number of patients in hospital with norovirus, a vomiting bacteria, was also increasing, with more than 350 beds occupied by people with the virus.

It comes ahead of a strike by resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, which is due to start next week.

It is hoped it will be called off after a new offer from Health Secretary Wes Streeting prompted the British Medical Association to agree to survey its members to see if they were prepared to call off the five-day strike due to start on Wednesday. The results of this survey will be announced on Monday.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accused the BMA of being “irresponsible” and said it should accept the offer presented, adding that the offer could only be implemented if it stopped the strike “particularly in the run-up to Christmas, particularly when we have a flu problem”.

Daniel Elkeles, of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said: “The NHS is in the middle of a storm, get there early. The flu hits hard and other winter viruses multiply.

“Now more than ever, the NHS needs all hands on deck.

“We must hope that BMA resident doctors will withdraw from next week’s strike, accept the government’s reasonable offer and end their damaging dispute.”

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which takes into account infection levels in the community as well as in hospitals, shows that infection rates are continuing to rise, although not as sharply as the previous week.

But officials stressed it was too early to take that as a sign the flu could be peaking.

They said the virus was unpredictable and a lull could be followed by another surge.

Dr Conall Watson, an infectious diseases expert at the UKHSA, urged people eligible for a free flu vaccine on the NHS, which includes over-65s, people with certain health conditions and pregnant women, to come forward if they have not already received one.

“There are still plenty of flu vaccines available to protect those who need them – what’s missing is time to be protected before Christmas.

“If you’re eligible, this is the last chance to be protected in the run-up to Christmas – so book an appointment with the NHS today.”

It may take up to two weeks after vaccination to develop the most complete protection against the vaccine, Dr. Watson added.

Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said winter viruses were putting even more strain on an “already warped system”.

She said patients faced long waits in emergency rooms because hospital staff were overloaded with patients.

But she accused NHS England and the government of using her as a “convenient scapegoat” for the “predictable breakdown” in NHS capacity caused by workforce shortages.

“The situation in emergency services has become so dire that what was once considered a critical incident is now considered normal and routine. What is happening is not an isolated emergency, but the culmination of a systemic failure.”