‘Superflu bouncing again’ as UK hospital admissions soar in numbers after festive events
The number of people being treated in hospital for flu in England has risen by 9% in the past week, according to NHS England, which has warned of a ‘bounce back’ in winter viruses
Festive gatherings over Christmas and New Year may have triggered a “superflu bounce back”, with an increase of hospitalisations hitting the UK.
The average daily number of people hospitalised with flu in England rose by 9% to 2,924 in the week ending January 4, up from 2,676 the previous week. This figure had been on a downward trajectory, having peaked at 3,140 in the week ending December 14.
The latest batch of NHS data also reveals a significant surge in patients enduring long waits in ambulances outside hospitals in England before being transferred to A&E teams. Last week, 33% of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals waited at least 30 minutes to be passed on to A&E teams, a sharp rise from 18% the previous week and the highest figure this winter so far.
This data does include New Year’s Eve, traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year for ambulance crews. Some 12% of ambulance handovers last week, equating to 11,805 patients, were delayed by more than an hour. This is up from 4% the previous week and represents the highest level this winter.
Overall, bed occupancy in England’s hospitals increased by 5% on the previous week, reaching just under 92%. NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit warned: “It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter, with hospitals again experiencing a rise in patients admitted with flu and other respiratory virus cases last week.
“The cold weather also means we are also seeing more vulnerable A&E departments are seeing an influx of patients with respiratory issues and injuries from slips and falls due to icy conditions, making it a particularly busy period.
“Staff continue to work incredibly hard and we are seeing teams across the country pulling out all the stops to ensure patients get the care they need. It remains important that people come forward for care as usual and there are still plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated and get protected against flu.”
Press Association analysis reveals the number of flu patients in hospitals is increasing most rapidly in southern and eastern England, while other regions have seen either a smaller rise or no change week on week. The largest percentage increase is in south-west England, where 252 flu patients were in hospital last week, a 36% increase from 185 the previous week.
South-east England has experienced a 24% jump, up from 290 patients to 360, while in eastern England the number of patients has risen by 17%, from 338 to 396. Smaller percentage increases have been observed in north-west England (up 8% from 253 patients to 274) and the Midlands (up 6% from 564 to 597), while in north-east England and Yorkshire the figure is broadly unchanged, up 0.2% from 628 to 629. In London, the figure is largely unchanged, down 0.8% week on week from 419 patients to 416.
Commenting on the data Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Today’s data shows we are not out of the woods yet. While the NHS is better prepared and performing more strongly than this time last year thanks to the tireless work of staff, the current cold snap is putting fresh pressure on frontline services.”
Cautioning the flu’s serious consequences the Health Secretary said: “Flu can be serious, particularly for older people, young children and those with underlying conditions, and vaccination remains the best protection. I urge everyone who is eligible to get their flu jab as soon as possible.”
He added: “By acting now, we can help keep people out of hospital, support our NHS staff through the toughest weeks of winter, and ensure emergency care is there for those who need it most.”
