Brits have been warned that influenza cases are on the rise as hundreds of hospital beds fill up across the county.
New NHS figures revealed a stark increase in cases, with the amount of patients hospitalised with the virus up by more than four times the level it was a month ago.
Severe symptoms of the flu includes breathing difficulties, chest pain and dehydration. The respiratory illness is considered dangerous as it can contribute to the worsening of chronic conditions. Just last month, officials warned there could be a “tidal wave of flu.”
According to the latest statistics, an average of 4,469 flu patients were in beds in England per day last week, including 211 in critical care. The shocking increase is up from 3,818 the previous week, when 184 were in critical care.
Flu and norovirus symptoms explained as NHS hospital declares ‘critical incident’
The data revealed a stark increase in cases
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Image:
Press Association Images)
It is also more than four times the number on December 1, when the total stood at 1,098. The figures have been published in the latest weekly snapshot of the performance of hospitals in England this winter. The average number of flu patients in hospital in England each day last week, 4,469, is up sharply on the equivalent week last winter, when the average was 1,312.
It is lower than this point two years ago, however, when the figure stood at 5,441. An average of 528 hospital beds in England were filled each day last week by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, down from 723 the previous week but higher than the equivalent figure at this point last winter (377) and two years ago (338).
There were an average of 74 children with RSV in hospital wards in England last week, down from 87 the previous week but higher than at this point a year ago (50). The number of hospital beds occupied each day by patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 averaged 1,184, down week-on-week from 1,277.
The warning comes just one day after a UK hospital declared a critical incident due to the overwhelming number of sickness. East Surrey Hospital stressed there has been a “sharp rise in winter viruses”. NHS officials urged people to avoid the hospital as they tackle staffing levels and “significant pressure”.
On Wednesday, Ed Cetti, Chief Medical Officer at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: “Due to high levels of demand and a sharp increase in winter viruses which is impacting staffing levels and how we move patients around our site, our services are under significant pressure.
“Our staff are working around the clock to minimise disruption to those already on our wards, treat all patients coming into our Emergency Department, and continue to discharge patients who no longer require acute care to ensure we have available beds for those who need admission, but please only attend East Surrey Hospital in a life-threatening emergency.”
Symptoms of flu
- Sudden high temperature
- An aching body
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea or tummy pain
- Feeling sick and being sick