Flu cases have soared following Christmas and New Year celebrations, but an NHS top doctor has warned “the worst is far from over”. The number of patients in hospital with flu has risen by 9% on the previous week (2,924), after two weeks of falling numbers, according to figures published today.
The average number of patients in hospital with Norovirus and Covid has also increased compared to the previous week, and overall bed occupancy was up 5%, reaching just under 92%. NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit warned: “It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter, with hospitals again experiencing a rise in patients admitted with flu and other respiratory virus cases last week.”
They added: “The cold weather also means we are seeing more vulnerable patients with respiratory problems in A&E and more injuries from slips and falls due to the icy conditions, so it remains an extremely busy time.
“Staff continue to work incredibly hard and we are seeing teams across the country pulling out all the stops to ensure patients get the care they need.
“It remains important that people come forward for care as usual and there are still plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated and get protected against flu.”
The NHS has delivered more than 18.6million flu vaccines this season, up by over half a million from the same time last year. Thousands of appointments are still available for people to get protected.
Next week, the NHS will send thousands of reminders to parents of children with certain health conditions to come forward for their flu jabs, which will be available from their local GP practice.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Today’s data shows we are not out of the woods yet. While the NHS is better prepared and performing more strongly than this time last year thanks to the tireless work of staff, the current cold snap is putting fresh pressure on frontline services.
“Flu can be serious, particularly for older people, young children and those with underlying conditions, and vaccination remains the best protection. I urge everyone who is eligible to get their flu jab as soon as possible.
“By acting now, we can help keep people out of hospital, support our NHS staff through the toughest weeks of winter, and ensure emergency care is there for those who need it most.”
Ambulance crews were also inundated last week, with 101,177 handovers. The average handover time was 37 minutes 44 seconds, which was more than 16 minutes quicker than the same period last year.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
