Hospitals across England are on high alert as flu hospitalizations have hit a record high for this time of year. Hospitals admitted an average of 3,140 patients daily last week, marking an 18% increase from the previous week and the highest figure England has seen for mid-December.
The surge comes as resident doctors enter their second day of a five-day strike over pay and working conditions.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England's national medical director, issued a warning. While some regions show signs of slowing growth, the health service is "nowhere near out of the woods yet."
The current flu patient count significantly exceeds 2,629 at this point last year and 648 in 2023. Critical care admissions also jumped, with 128 flu patients in intensive care last week compared to 106 the previous week.
Regional patterns vary sharply. The North West saw a 4% decrease in flu cases, while the South West recorded a 40% surge and Eastern England a 39% increase. Scotland bucked the trend entirely, reporting 1,918 flu cases last week - a 20% drop from 2,410 the previous week.
Hospital beds are running at about 94% occupancy.
Cases of norovirus-like symptoms also climbed 21% to an average of 427 patients daily, adding further strain to the system.
Strike compounds winter pressure
The timing of the resident doctors' strike has drawn sharp criticism. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: "The BMA's regrettable decision to pursue strike action at this critical moment is piling on the pressure, but the NHS team has responded brilliantly to keep the show on the road."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday called the strikes "dangerous and utterly irresponsible."
The industrial action marks the 14th round of strikes by resident doctors in England since 2023.
Healthcare leaders have urged external mediation through conciliation service Acas, which stated it is "well prepared and ready to help with the dispute."
Treatment gaps spark concern
Oxford University experts highlighted significant shortcomings in flu treatment and prevention. Prof Sir Peter Horby, director of the Pandemic Sciences Institute, criticized the "poor pipeline of treatments for flu."
"We've got 2,500 people in hospital as of today, at least, and we don't have any treatments that are proven to be effective in patients with severe influenza," Horby said. "We've got more treatments for Covid, which is five years old, than we do for flu, which is 90 years old. There's no reason for that other than lack of investment and lack of adequate trials."
He noted that despite flu being 90 years old, there is still no mRNA vaccine or universal vaccine covering different flu variations.
Dr Leon Peto, a consultant in infectious diseases at Oxford, cautioned that uncertainty remains. "The data that we have so far doesn't prove that this is anything very different to a normal, significant flu year," he said. "But having said that, even in the flu years that we've had recently since Covid, it has led to many thousands of deaths and lots of severe illness, lots of disruption."
Officials urge continued NHS use
Despite the pressure, health officials emphasized the NHS remains open for urgent care. Professor Pandit said: "But it remains vital that people continue to come forward for NHS care as normal."
Over 18 million people have received flu vaccinations this year, 306,000 more than at the same point last year. Health officials continue to urge eligible individuals to get their flu jab.
Streeting added: "Our entire focus is on keeping patients safe through the strikes and this peak period for the NHS."
The mask debate has also resurfaced. While Streeting stated "the time has not yet come" for a general mask mandate, he supports local hospital leaders in asking visitors to wear masks based on specific pressures in their facilities.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
