Hospital admissions for flu in England have risen sharply, with patient numbers now more than 50% higher than at the same point last year, according to the first official winter snapshot from NHS England.
Sharp Rise in Flu Cases
The new figures show that an average of 1,717 patients with flu were occupying hospital beds each day last week. Among these, 69 were in critical care beds. This marks a significant increase from the same period in 2022, when 1,098 flu patients were recorded in NHS hospitals, representing a 56% rise year-on-year.
An 'Unusually Early' and Sustained Season
Health experts have noted that this year's flu season began unusually early and has still not reached its peak. Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of the King's Fund, stated the data confirms the NHS is entering its most challenging period, with pressures mounting from all directions.
"Rising flu waves and industrial action are all adding strain to a system which is already struggling to deliver timely care for patients," Woolnough said. "The flu season started unusually early this year and is yet to peak, so it is too soon to know how long this surge will be sustained for."
Broader NHS Performance Under Pressure
The weekly data also shed light on wider pressures within the health service. It revealed that last week, 30% of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England waited at least 30 minutes to be handed over to A&E teams. While this is an improvement on the 36% recorded the previous week, it indicates ongoing challenges in patient flow and emergency care capacity as winter demands intensify.
The publication of these statistics forms part of NHS England's new weekly winter reporting, designed to provide a transparent view of hospital performance during the health service's busiest and most difficult season.
