The latest data from NHS England shows there were around 5,408 flu patients in beds in England every day last week, causing the same pressures on A&E staff as the Covid pandemic
NHS staff are facing the same extreme pressures last experienced during the “height of the pandemic,” amid a huge surge in viruses.
New data from NHS England shows there were an average of 5,408 flu patients in beds in England each day last week, including 256 in critical care. The figure is up 21% from 4,469 the previous week, when 211 were in critical care and nearly five times the number on December 1, when the total stood at 1,098.
It comes after around 20 NHS trusts across England declared critical incidents as services were stretched beyond capacity. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “Some staff working in A&E [are] saying their days at work feel like some of the days we had during the height of the pandemic.
“It is clear hospitals are under exceptional pressure at the start of this new year, with mammoth demand stemming from this ongoing cold weather snap and respiratory viruses like flu. [This is] all on the back of 2024 being the busiest year on record for A&E and ambulance teams.
“I never fail to be impressed by the remarkable job NHS staff across a range of services [are doing] in the face of current challenges, remaining compassionate, professional and doing everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible while often working in hospitals that are full to bursting. It is hard to quantify just through the data how tough it is for frontline staff at the moment.”
Prof Powis urged people to only use 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 and 111 online for other conditions, as well as using GP and pharmacy services.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting added: “In the past six months, we have ended the junior doctors’ strikes so staff are on the front line not the picket line for the first winter in three years, and introduced the new RSV vaccine.
“Despite the best efforts of staff, patients are still receiving unacceptable standards of care. Although this winter’s campaign vaccinated more people than last winter, this strain of flu has hit hard, putting more than three times as many patients into hospital compared to this time last year.
“Annual winter pressures should not mean an annual winter crisis, which is why this Government is making significant investment in the NHS, undertaking fundamental reform, and acting now to improve social care. It will take time to turn the NHS around, but the fact waiting lists are now falling shows change is possible.”