Health officials have issued a stark warning as winter viruses, led by a significant flu rebound, pile fresh pressure on the NHS following Christmas and New Year social gatherings.
Sharp Rise in Flu and Ambulance Delays
New data from NHS England reveals a worrying reversal in the trend for influenza. The average number of patients in hospital with flu each day in the week ending 4th January was 2,924, marking a 9% increase from the 2,676 recorded the previous week. This follows a period of decline after figures peaked at 3,140 in mid-December.
The strain on emergency services is equally severe. The latest statistics show a sharp deterioration in ambulance handover times outside A&E departments across England. Last week, 33% of patients arriving by ambulance waited at least 30 minutes to be transferred to hospital teams, a dramatic rise from 18% the week before and the highest level this winter.
Furthermore, 12% of handovers, equating to 11,805 patients, experienced delays of over an hour, up from just 4% the previous week. The data period included New Year's Eve, traditionally one of the busiest nights for ambulance crews.
Regional Variations and Wider Pressures
Analysis indicates the flu resurgence is not uniform across the country. The most pronounced increases are concentrated in southern and eastern regions. South-west England saw the largest percentage jump, with flu patients rising 36% from 185 to 252. South-east England experienced a 24% increase (from 290 to 360), and eastern England a 17% rise (from 338 to 396).
In contrast, increases were more modest in the north-west (up 8%) and the Midlands (up 6%), while figures in London, and the north-east and Yorkshire remained largely unchanged week-on-week.
The NHS is grappling with multiple challenges simultaneously. Overall hospital bed occupancy in England rose to just under 92%. Cases of norovirus-like symptoms are also climbing, with an average of 361 beds occupied daily by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting, a 27% weekly increase.
Official Warnings and Public Advice
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS national medical director, stated: “It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter... The cold weather also means we are seeing more vulnerable patients with respiratory problems in A&E and more injuries from slips and falls.” She emphasised that staff are working "incredibly hard" and urged the public to come forward for care when needed and to get vaccinated against flu.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed the call for vaccination, stating: “Today’s data shows we are not out of the woods yet... Flu can be serious, particularly for older people, young children and those with underlying conditions, and vaccination remains the best protection.”
Rory Deighton of the NHS Confederation highlighted the compounding factors: “Flu levels are again on the rise and this, coupled with increasing bed occupancy and delayed discharges, shows that there is still a long way to go before this difficult winter is over.” He expressed concern that the current cold snap, bringing freezing temperatures and ice, would intensify pressures during the NHS's traditionally busiest weeks.
The NHS reminds the public that flu symptoms often appear suddenly and can include:
- A sudden high temperature
- An aching body and feeling exhausted
- A dry cough, sore throat, and headache
- Loss of appetite, nausea, or diarrhoea
