NHS England has warned the well being service is dealing with a “worst case situation” December with a surge of “tremendous 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 scenario’ as ‘super flu’ surges
Newest figures present:
• A mean of two,660 sufferers have been in hospital per day with flu final week
• That is the very best ever for this time of 12 months and up 55% on final week
• At this level final 12 months 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 because the week coated by this information – with no peak in sight.
Learn extra: Why is flu season worse this year?
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 degree because the 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 also be hovering.
New month-to-month figures present A&E attendances have been a document for November at 2.35 million – greater than 30,000 increased than November 2024.
As well as, there have been 48,814 extra ambulance incidents (802,525) in contrast with final 12 months (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 crucial incident standing because of the excessive variety of folks attending A&E.
The record-breaking demand on the NHS coincides with a resident 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 until they’ve been contacted to reschedule.
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 severely ailing.
Newest figures present greater than 17.4 million folks have been vaccinated to this point this 12 months, greater than 381,000 increased than final 12 months.
You will get it in the event you:
• Are 65 or over in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire
• Are pregnant
• Dwell in a care dwelling
• Are the primary carer for an older or disabled individual, or obtain carer’s allowance
• Dwell with somebody who has a weakened immune system
• Are a frontline well being and social care employee
• Are of college age
• Have sure medical circumstances (the NHS has a full list)
Wes Streeting, the well being secretary, warned of a “tidal wave of flu tearing by means of our hospitals”.
“We’re working with the NHS to ensure it’s in a position to deal with this as finest as potential,” he mentioned.
Warning ‘extraordinarily difficult few weeks forward’
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS nationwide medical director, warned the well being service faces “an especially difficult few weeks forward” with “workers being pushed to the restrict”.
She mentioned: “With document demand for A&E and ambulances and an impending resident medical doctors’ strike, this unprecedented wave of tremendous flu is leaving the NHS dealing with a worst-case situation for this time of 12 months – with workers being pushed to the restrict to maintain offering the absolute best take care of sufferers.
“The numbers of sufferers in hospital with flu is extraordinarily excessive for this time of 12 months. Even worse, it continues to rise and the height just isn’t in sight but, so the NHS faces an especially difficult few weeks forward.”
She added: “We now have ready earlier for winter than ever earlier than, and stress-tested providers to make sure folks have a variety of how to get the assistance they want and keep away from needing to go to A&E.
“For non-life-threatening care, folks ought to name NHS 111 or use 111 on-line, which may direct you to essentially the most applicable place, and use A&E and 999 for all times threatening circumstances and severe accidents.”
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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 supply to members over the approaching day, and is predicted to introduced a choice on Monday, simply two days earlier than the deliberate strike.
The supply features a quick growth of specialist coaching posts in addition to overlaying out-of-pocket bills akin to examination charges, however doesn’t embody further pay.
