The NHS may be set to face its worst ever winter flu season as cases continue to soar, with Greater Manchester seeing almost three times the number of people in hospital with flu compared to this time last year.
An average of 4,469 patients were in England’s hospitals with flu in the week ending Sunday December 29, according to the latest official figures. That’s five-times as many cases as the same time last year when there were an average of 942 in hospital with flu, and is more than double the average at the same time in 2022 when there were 2,088 flu patients in hospital.
A total of 4,102 people spent Christmas Day in hospital with flu this year, while the number of patients peaked on Sunday when there were 5,074. Greater Manchester is also experiencing far more cases this year.
There were an average of 197.3 patients in the region’s hospital beds in the week ending December 29. That’s up from 150.7 a week earlier and is almost three times as many as the same time last year when there was an average of 69.4. In 2022 however, there were an average of 406.4 patients in hospital with flu over the same seven day period.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which is the largest hospital trust in the country and runs hospitals in Manchester and Trafford boroughs, has more cases of flu than any other trust in Greater Manchester. There were an average of 138.1 patients sick with flu in the trust’s hospital beds in the week ending December 29.
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Stepping Hill Hospital, had an average of 23.1 and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, operating the Royal Bolton Hospital, had an average of 28.9. In Tameside the average was 3.7, and in Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust it was 3.4.
Back in 2022 though, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust had an average of 217.1 flu patients in the week to December 29. Bolton had an average of 108.4 and Stockport an average of 69.1.
The NHS says it has been hit hard by a ‘quad-demic’ of Covid-19, flu and norovirus leading thousands of patients to end up in hospital. NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “The winter flu season has not only hit the NHS early this year, but it is potentially on track to be one of the worst we have ever seen, as the ‘quad-demic’ continues to increase pressure across services.
“Frontline NHS staff are currently under significant pressure – and as families and friends have gathered over the festive period and to celebrate the new year, we expect the peak of seasonal viruses is yet to come.
“Firstly, I’d like to thank NHS staff – despite huge demand, they continue to work tirelessly to keep patients safe and provide them with the best possible care.
“And secondly I would like to remind the public that community services like GPs and pharmacies are open as usual for help and advice today and on Thursday and Friday.
“Anyone who needs medical support should continue to use services as normal – 999 and A&E only in an emergency, and for other urgent health needs, use NHS 111 or 111 online.”