NHS England has warned the well being service is going through a “worst case scenario” December with a surge of “super flu”.
The warning comes as new figures revealed the variety of folks in hospital with flu have elevated by greater than half in only one week.
Catch up because it occurred: NHS warns of ‘worst-case situation’ as ‘tremendous flu’ surges
Newest figures present:
• A mean of two,660 sufferers had been in hospital per day with flu final week
• That is the very best ever for this time of yr and up 55% on final week
• At this level final yr the quantity stood at 1,861 sufferers, whereas in 2023 it was simply 402
Well being service bosses are warning the variety of flu sufferers in hospital has already elevated sharply for the reason that week coated by this information – with no peak in sight.
Virus outbreaks coincide with medical doctors’ strikes
Weekly flu numbers in England peaked at 5,408 sufferers final winter and reached 5,441 over the winter of 2022/23, the very best stage for the reason that pandemic.
Alongside rocketing flu, the variety of norovirus sufferers in hospital has additionally risen by 35%.
The NHS is now warning winter viruses are beginning to “engulf hospitals”.
Demand for A&Es and ambulance providers can be hovering.
New month-to-month figures present A&E attendances had been a file for November at 2.35 million – greater than 30,000 greater than November 2024.
As well as, there have been 48,814 extra ambulance incidents (802,525) in contrast with final yr (753,711).
Some hospitals throughout the nation have requested workers, sufferers and guests to put on face masks to chop the unfold of flu, whereas others have gone out and in of essential incident standing because of the excessive variety of folks attending A&E.
What are the signs of flu?
Sudden excessive temperature
Achy physique
Feeling drained or exhausted
Dry cough
Sore throat
Complications
Issue sleeping
Lack of urge for food
Diarrhoea
Feeling or being sick
The record-breaking demand on the NHS coincides with a resident medical doctors’ strike from 17 to 22 December over pay and jobs – sparking fears of main disruption for sufferers within the run as much as Christmas.
Individuals are being suggested to attend any deliberate appointments scheduled in the course of the strikes except they’ve been contacted to reschedule.
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Will medical doctors settle for late deal to keep away from strikes?
Flu vaccinations on the up… who can get one?
The NHS is urging anybody eligible to get their flu vaccination to assist stop them getting critically ailing.
Newest figures present greater than 17.4 million folks have been vaccinated to date this yr, greater than 381,000 greater than final yr.
You may get it when you:
• Are 65 or over in England, Wales and Northern Eire
• Are 50 or over in Scotland
• Are pregnant
• Stay in a care house
• Are the primary carer for an older or disabled particular person, or obtain carer’s allowance
• Stay with somebody who has a weakened immune system
• Are a frontline well being and social care employee
• Are of faculty age
• Have sure medical circumstances (the NHS has a full checklist)
Wes Streeting, the well being secretary, warned of a “tidal wave of flu tearing through our hospitals”.
“We are working with the NHS to make sure it is able to cope with this as best as possible,” he stated.
Evaluation – Why these flu figures are so troubling
NHSE press releases might be liable to hyperbole: a “tsunami of infections, worst case scenarios” and “tidal wave of flu surging through hospitals” are latest examples.
However the well being service’s headline writers might be allowed this extra proper now.
The newest flu numbers are unhealthy. Actually unhealthy and will worsen. One latest projection was 8,000 sufferers, earlier than this wave subsides.
However that is the place the issue lies. There isn’t a peak in sight.
We all know flu season has come early. It’ll last more. However there’s uncertainty over once we anticipate to see infections falling.
Hospitals are at capability. Most of these receiving care are aged or have underlying well being circumstances.
However youthful, fitter folks cannot afford to be complacent.
This can be a significantly nasty pressure that’s extremely infectious. No one is immune. Besides these individuals who have protected themselves with a vaccine.
Warning ‘extraordinarily difficult few weeks forward’
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS nationwide medical director, warned the well being service faces “an extremely challenging few weeks ahead” with “staff being pushed to the limit”.
She stated: “With record demand for A&E and ambulances and an impending resident doctors’ strike, this unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year – with staff being pushed to the limit to keep providing the best possible care for patients.
“The numbers of sufferers in hospital with flu is extraordinarily excessive for this time of yr. Even worse, it continues to rise and the height is just not in sight but, so the NHS faces a particularly difficult few weeks forward.”
She added: “We’ve ready earlier for winter than ever earlier than, and stress-tested providers to make sure folks have a spread of how to get the assistance they want and keep away from needing to go to A&E.
“For non-life-threatening care, people should call NHS 111 or use 111 online, which can direct you to the most appropriate place, and use A&E and 999 for life threatening conditions and serious injuries.”
Mr Streeting has provided the British Medical Affiliation (BMA) a last-minute deal within the hope medical doctors will name off the walkout, which begins subsequent Wednesday.
The medical doctors’ union has agreed to place the provide to members over the approaching day, and is anticipated to introduced a call on Monday, simply two days earlier than the deliberate strike.
The provide features a quick enlargement of specialist coaching posts in addition to masking out-of-pocket bills similar to examination charges, however doesn’t embody additional pay.
