‘Superflu’ circumstances mapped as document variety of sufferers in hospital – test your space
The number of people in hospital with flu has continued to rise to a record level for this time of year, new NHS figures show with officials bracing for ‘challenging weeks ahead’
Hospitals are “nowhere near out of the woods yet” as flu cases remain at record levels for this time of year, health officials have said. The number of patients hospitalised in England with “super flu” continues to rise.
A new map reveals the impact of the H3N2 strain on hospitals nationwide, driving an unusually early and severe flu season due to “less natural immunity in the community”. Data released this morning indicates an 18% increase from the previous week’s 2,660 cases. Last week saw an average of 3,140 patients hospitalised with the virus, marking a staggering 55% jump from the week prior.
Our interactive map provides insight into how NHS services in your area are coping. Despite today’s news of an 18% surge, it seems the rate at which cases are increasing is beginning to slow. NHS England releases weekly updates on the number of flu patients in hospital.
This time last year, the figure stood at 2,629 patients, while in 2023 it was a mere 648. Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS National Medical Director, commented: “With record demand for A&E and ambulances and an impending resident doctors strike, this unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year – with staff being pushed to the limit to keep providing the best possible care for patients.
“The numbers 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.”
Hospital admissions for flu patients reached 128 in critical care beds across England last week, climbing from 106 the week before and marginally exceeding last year’s figure of 125 at the same point.
During last winter, weekly flu patient numbers for England reached their highest point at 5,408, whilst the winter of 2022/23 saw figures climb to 5,441 – the most severe level recorded since the pandemic began.
Health officials have previously issued warnings that UK hospitals are confronting a “tidal wave of flu”, with concerns that doctors’ industrial action and post-Christmas pressures could create a devastating combination for the NHS.
“The flu predictions look worrying…” one hospital chief previously told the Health Service Journal. “If they come through as predicted the second week of January could be carnage – a perfect storm of flu, post Christmas surge and the lag impact of [strikes].”
Medical authorities have issued alerts about a ‘drifted’ flu variant, designated as A(H3N2) – or subclade K – which has rapidly become the dominant influenza strain across the country.
The H3N2 subtype constitutes one of three main viruses behind seasonal flu outbreaks. The NHS is confronting a difficult period as it battles an unusually early flu outbreak, with hospital admissions for influenza reaching unprecedented levels for this time of year.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging everyone who qualifies to receive their flu vaccination.
“Vaccines help protect those most vulnerable from developing serious illness and being hospitalized and we strongly encourage all those eligible to get vaccinated against flu as soon as possible – vaccines remain our best defence,” the agency said.
Influenza symptoms can emerge suddenly and include:.
Meanwhile, today’s figures also revealed that an average of 427 hospital beds were occupied daily last week by patients suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, representing a 21% increase from 354 the previous week. However, this remains below the same period in 2024, when the number reached 711.
These statistics form part of the most recent weekly overview of hospital performance across England during the winter months.
