A stark warning has been sounded as the NHS is hit by a drastic spike in flu rates, with the number of patients hospitalised by the virus quadrupling over recent weeks. Official NHS data reveals that flu hospitalisations in England have risen to more than four times the levels from just a month ago.
The latest count shows an average daily figure of 4,469 flu-ridden patients last week, up from 3,818, with those needing critical care climbing to 211 from 184. On December 1, this number was much lower at 1,098.
These alarming stats were part of the latest weekly rundown on how hospitals are coping during the chilly season. Meanwhile, the winter vomiting bug, norovirus, is also causing concern.
Figures for last week show an average of 528 beds were taken up each day by patients with diarrhoea or vomiting symptoms, though this is a dip from 723 the week before – but it remains higher than last year’s and the year before’s numbers at this time. The UK Health Security Agency dropped a bombshell today, confirming on X: “We’ve been seeing more norovirus cases than in any season since we started our current reporting system.”
The NHS is bracing for a tough winter as the number of children hospitalised with RSV dips slightly to 74 from 87 last week, but remains higher than last year’s figure of 50. Meanwhile, daily Covid-19 hospitalisations have decreased to an average of 1,184 from 1,277, reports Surrey Live.
Amidst the seasonal illnesses, people are being advised to avoid social gatherings and stay home if they exhibit flu symptoms to protect the vulnerable. The NHS has provided guidance on when to seek emergency care for flu symptoms and urges those who haven’t yet received their Covid or flu vaccinations to do so promptly.
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Flu symptoms
- Some of the main symptoms of flu include:
- a sudden high temperature
- tiredness and weakness
- a headache
- general aches and pains
- a dry, chesty cough
- sore throat
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
- chills
- a runny or blocked nose
- sneezing
The NHS has issued advice as to when people should dial 999 or go to A&E with flu symptoms:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
The NHS has warned of a massive surge in hospital admissions for flu and explained when people should call for an ambulance
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Contact your GP practice urgently if you:
- are more short of breath than usual
- have pain on breathing in or coughing
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- are coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
- have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- have a very high or low temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, warned: “The NHS is busier than it has ever been before heading into winter, with flu and norovirus numbers in hospital rising sharply. For a while there have been warnings of a ‘tripledemic’ of COVID -19, flu and RSV this winter, but with rising cases of norovirus this could fast become a ‘quad-demic’ so it’s important that if you haven’t had your covid or flu jab to follow the lead of millions of others and come forward and get protected as soon as possible.”
“Ambulances are also facing huge demand, with thousands of extra patients and other pressures having an impact on handover delays, which is why our robust plans, including services like urgent treatment centres and same day emergency care are so important this winter. As always, the public have an important part to play in helping NHS staff over winter by, as ever, calling 999 in an emergency and using the NHS 111 service through the NHS App, online or phone, for advice on how to access the right support for non-emergency health needs.”
For more advice from NHS click here.