The NHS is preparing for what it warns could be an 'unprecedented' wave of flu this winter, as the number of people hospitalised with the virus in England has already reached record levels for this time of year.
Record Hospitalisations as Season Starts Early
According to the first official NHS winter situation report, an average of 1,717 hospital beds were occupied by flu patients each day last week. Of these, 69 patients required critical care. This startling figure is 56 per cent higher than the equivalent week in 2024.
While flu numbers peaked at 5,408 patients in early January last winter – the highest weekly figure since the Covid-19 pandemic – this year's season has begun much earlier and is yet to reach its peak. Health officials fear this could lead to intense pressure on hospitals in the crucial run-up to the Christmas period.
Senior Medics Issue Urgent Vaccination Plea
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national medical director for urgent and emergency care, stated that flu cases are now "incredibly high". He said the latest data confirms the health service's "deepest concerns" about an unprecedented flu wave.
"The NHS has prepared earlier for winter than ever before, but despite that we know that ballooning flu cases coinciding with strikes may stretch our staff close to breaking point in the coming weeks," Professor Redhead warned. He issued an urgent plea for vaccination, stating: "With just a couple of weeks left to ensure maximum immunity from flu for Christmas Day, I urge anyone eligible to come forward to get their jab."
Those eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine include:
- Everyone aged 65 and over.
- People under 65 in clinical risk groups.
- Pregnant women.
- Care home residents and carers.
- Frontline health and social care workers.
- Children.
- Close contacts of people who are immunosuppressed.
Jabs are available through pharmacies, GP surgeries, and community clinic drop-in centres across the country.
Ambulance Handover Delays and Strike Disruption Concerns
The weekly report also shed light on pressures in emergency care. It revealed that 30 per cent of patients arriving by ambulance last week faced waits of at least 30 minutes to be handed over to A&E teams. While this is lower than the 36 per cent recorded in the same week last year, it remains higher than the 27 per cent seen in 2023.
Furthermore, 10 per cent of handovers – equating to 9,580 patients – were delayed by more than an hour. This compares to 16 per cent at this point last year and 10 per cent in 2023.
Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation, commented on the compounding pressures. "It is clear that the flu season has hit much earlier and much harder than in previous years, piling pressure onto NHS services which have already had one of their busiest summers ever," he said.
While acknowledging that ambulance handover delays were lower than last year despite increased demand, Deighton expressed deep worry about the impact of impending industrial action. "Against this backdrop of mounting pressures the NHS will also have to mitigate the disruption of further strikes, which could have a huge impact on patients," he concluded.
