Rise in flu and Covid admissions adds to NHS 'storm of pressure'

A surge in the number of flu and Covid admissions to hospitals in England is adding to a "storm of pressure" facing the health service, NHS leaders have said.

- Anna Bawden

Figures released yesterday showed that in Christmas week there were on average 3,631 patients with Covid in hospital, up 57 % from the same week in November. Cases of norovirus were up 61% on the same period last year, while serious flu cases also continued to spiral, with an average of 942 patients with flu in hospital each day in the week to 24 December, including 48 in critical care.

The figure is almost six times higher than in November and double the total a fortnight ago, albeit below the numbers for the equivalent week in 2022, when the UK experienced the worst flu season for a decade.

The winter viruses are having a knock-on effect on staffing, NHS England data shows, with an average of 2,597 employees off with Covid alone each day last week, up 51% from November.

Meanwhile, 10,000 patients had to spend Christmas in hospital despite being well enough to go home. Of the 18,669 patients who were fit to leave hospital on Christmas Eve, only 8,667 were actually discharged.

In January, the prime minister announced a new plan to avoid another NHS winter crisis. He pledged to create another 5,000 beds in English hospitals before winter and to reduce bed occupancy rates.