Hospitalisations for those suffering from the flu have risen by 70% in the last seven days as the NHS battles to cope with the “tidal wave” of cases.
Last week, an average of 1,861 people were admitted to hospital each day, up from 1,099 the previous week and just 402 at the same time last year.
Children aged 5-14 are the worst affected but cases amongst adults are expected to rise in the coming weeks as school and nurseries close, according to the UK Health and Security Agency.
Cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common cause of coughs and colds and Norovirus, the winter vomiting bug are also rising across the country.
According to figures from NHS England, an average of 837 beds were occupied last week by people with Norovirus, an increase of 64% on the same time the year before.
Meanwhile, 152 children were in hospital with RSV each day last week, an increase of nearly 50% from the year before.
The figures of multiple illnesses on the rise have caused fear about a potential “quad-demic” and the ability of health services to cope with a spike in illness as overstretched medics head into the peak winter season under significant pressure.
Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation, the membership organisation that speaks for the whole healthcare system, said: “These figures are deeply worrying as they provide yet more evidence that the NHS is already under considerable strain before the pressures of winter have peaked.
“We knew that the health service was running hot, with A&Es, ambulances and general practice having their busiest October on record. But it is clear that the impact from seasonal viruses such as flu and norovirus is being felt much earlier than in previous years, with 10% more staff off sick than the same week last year. Ambulance handover delays are already much higher than the same week last year, while bed occupancy remains above safe levels.
“NHS leaders and their teams are working incredibly hard to provide patients the care they need in very difficult circumstances and signs suggest we are going to be facing a very tough winter.
“Tackling the capacity problems in social care is going to be critical if we are going to ensure that future winters are not as difficult. But we also hope the ten-year plan for health and the spending review next year will give the NHS the financial security it needs to start making the big shifts in care needed to achieve the government’s ambitions. Providing more preventative care out of hospital will be a key way of reducing pressures on ambulances and A&Es.”
The NHS is urging people to get vaccinated to limit the spread of flu, COVID and RSV.
Over-65s, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions are among those who can get a free flu vaccination at a pharmacy.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, the boss of NHS England, said: “The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning for patients and for the NHS – the figures are adding to our ‘quad-demic’ worries.”
He added: “With one week left to book your vaccine, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting booked in to protect yourself against serious illness and to avoid ‘festive flu’.”
