The data showed that the cases had surged in the Christmas and New Year period, with over 5000 patients hospitalised with the virus at the end of last week.
The National Health Service of England has shown an increase in the number of flu cases in the country.
According to the New NHS data, the cases have increased in the Christmas and New Year.
The data showed that the cases had surged in the Christmas and New Year period, with over 5000 patients hospitalised with the virus at the end of last week.
As of the 29th of December, it was noted that there were an average of 4469 patients with flu in hospital each day.
It was stated that this was almost 3.5 times higher than the same week last year.
Of this number, 211 a day were in critical care.
It was further noted that there were 4,102 patients in hospital with flu on Christmas Day, rising sharply by almost a quarter to 5,074 by Sunday, 29 December.
Hospitals are still experiencing pressure from a range of viruses, with an average of 723 patients with norovirus in hospital in the week ending 22 December, and 528 patients each day last week – although this has come down, it remains 40% higher than 378 the same week last year.
According to amber cold health alerts for England issued by UKHSA, temperatures in the coming days are set to drop below freezing.
There was also an average of 74 children with RSV in hospital every day last week, up almost half on 50 for the same period in 2023, as well as an average of 1184 beds occupied by patients with Covid.
The data published by the National Health Service also shows that to prepare for an expected rise in winter pressure, the NHS had 1,301 more beds open last week than the same period last year (101,309 vs 100,008). There was an average of 648 more beds occupied each day compared to last year (90,200 vs 89,552).
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: “These latest figures show the pressure from flu was nowhere near letting up before we headed into the New Year, skyrocketing to over 5,000 cases a day in hospital as of the end of last week and rising at a very concerning rate.”
“On top of flu there is also continual pressure from Covid, while RSV and norovirus hospital cases are also higher than last year, with hospitals putting in place an extra 1,300 beds last week than the same time last year in expectation of this continued pressure from viruses and other demand.
“With what looks like an extreme cold snap expected right across England ahead of the weekend, we know the low temperatures can be dangerous for those who are vulnerable or have respiratory conditions so if you are at risk, do try and keep warm and make sure you are stocked up on any regular medication.”
Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting said, “The tidal wave of flu this winter has seen more than three times as many patients in hospital compared with last year, putting huge pressures on the NHS.
“This government has ended the strikes so staff are on the frontline this winter rather than the picket line, introduced the new RSV vaccine, and put immediate extra investment into the NHS.
“But we have been honest from day one that the status quo isn’t good enough. We are investing in and reforming our NHS, and grasping the nettle of social care reform, to finally break out of the cycle of annual winter crises, because there is no solution to the crisis in the NHS that doesn’t involve a solution to the social care crisis,” the Secretary of State for health noted.
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