Flu rises sharply in England’s hospitals
The number of flu patients hospitalized in England quadrupled last month and is growing at a “very worrying rate”, NHS bosses have warned.
The latest figures show that as of the end of last week, 5,000 patients with the virus were being treated in hospitals, almost 3.5 times more than in the same week in 2023, although not as high as in 2022.
The president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine told the BBC that the pressure on hospitals was “unacceptably terrible” and that influenza was pushing them to the brink of collapse.
Meanwhile, health officials have warned of the impact this weekend’s extremely cold weather will have on vulnerable patients and the health system.
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent care, said the data showed “the pressures from influenza are far from abating heading into the new year, with hospital admissions surging to more than 5,000 a day by the end of 2019″. last week and is rising at a very worrying rate.”
He added: “An extreme cold snap is expected in England before the weekend and we know that low temperatures can be dangerous for those who are vulnerable or have respiratory conditions.”
The red-haired professor said people at risk should try to stay warm and make sure they stock up on any regular medications.
It’s not uncommon for the flu to increase during the winter. HSE says “this is to be expected”, which is why it has been urging people who are eligible for free flu jabs, particularly health and social care workers.
According to the latest vaccination data, about 33% of pregnant women, 37% of high-risk groups and 73% of people over 65 have been vaccinated.
This year, hospitals are adding extra beds to help cope with pressure from the flu and other winter viruses, including COVID-19 and norovirus, the winter vomiting virus.
NHS chiefs say they are also providing more support for people who often need emergency services and are providing more care outside hospitals.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of NHS Confederation, said that although the NHS was “doing everything it can” in advance to reduce patient risks, the service remained in a position of “national vulnerability” and local services were starting to come under “significant pressure”.
Figures last week showed some 12,200 patients waited more than an hour in ambulances to be taken to hospital for treatment.
Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program it was a very difficult time for both patients and staff.
“We’re seeing ambulances that are often stuck outside emergency rooms and our emergency rooms are full.”
He said there was “a huge amount of avoidable harm – too many deaths that shouldn’t have happened”.
He added: “The flu was the straw that broke the camel’s back because we had a chronic shortage of beds in our hospitals and we were not using those beds correctly because we had not reformed social care.”
His criticism came on the day the plans were set out by the health and social care minister. Reforming adult social care in the UK, Although they are unlikely to be delivered before 2028 at the earliest.
There are many hospitals in different parts of the UK Restrict access and requiring patients and visitors to wear masks to prevent the spread of influenza.
There has also been a significant increase in the number of people hospitalized with flu in Scotland. Earlier this week, First Minister John Swinney said the NHS was under “very significant pressure”.
A Welsh Government spokesman said “demand for emergency care services continues to be high” this winter, with an increase in flu cases adding further pressure over the Christmas period.
