The NHS is bracing for its worst ever winter crisis in the next fortnight as a worsening 'flu-nami' leaves hospitals, GP surgeries and ambulance services under intense strain. Hospitals are already treating record numbers of flu patients for this time of year, with an average of 2,660 people a day in hospital last week due to flu, a 55% increase on the previous week. This includes 106 people in intensive care, mostly with breathing difficulties.
NHS leaders warn that the situation will deteriorate further in the days ahead. Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England's joint medical director, said: 'The number of patients in hospital with flu is extremely high for this time of year. Even worse, it continues to rise and the peak is not in sight yet, so the NHS faces an extremely challenging few weeks ahead.' The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Covid are also contributing to pressure, with a mutated and highly virulent flu strain threatening to 'engulf hospitals'.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people who have not had a flu jab to get one as soon as possible. Dr Conall Watson, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: 'There is still plenty of flu vaccine available to protect those who need it. What’s running out is time to be protected ahead of Christmas.' The agency confirmed that the vaccine is effective against severe disease, despite a drifted H3N2 strain circulating, which typically affects older adults more severely.
Vaccine uptake among at-risk groups remains worryingly low. By 7 December, only 37.4% of under-65s with long-term health conditions, 35.6% of pregnant women, 41.5% of children aged two or under, and 42.3% of three-year-olds had been vaccinated. However, uptake among over-65s is much higher at 71.7%.
Meanwhile, a five-day strike by resident doctors is set to begin next Wednesday, causing huge alarm in the NHS. Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, described the strike as 'cruel' and 'calculated' to 'cause mayhem'. The government has made an improved offer to settle the long-running pay dispute, and the strike may be called off if enough doctors accept it.
