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The number of flu patients in hospital has risen across England for the sixth week in a row, figures released on Thursday morning show.
Multiple hospitals declared or continued critical incidents this week, the highest NHS alert level, as the surge in respiratory cases overwhelmed accident and emergency departments.
The number of people requiring hospital treatment for flu began to surge at the end of November, and the latest NHS data shows no sign of relief.
In the week ending 5 January, there were an average of 5,408 patients in hospital each day, including 256 in critical care, up from an average of 4,469 a day the week prior and more than quadruple the average from November.
The week ended with 5,111 flu patients in hospital on Sunday – up from 5,074 the week before.
Last week’s peak was on Friday when 5,657 patients were in hospital with flu – the highest figure this winter. The current numbers show a 168% increase month-on-month.
This is significantly higher than the same date last year, when just 1,523 patients were in hospital for flu. The numbers remain in line with the 2022/23 winter flu crisis, which averaged 5,281 patients for that same week.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, spoke of the “exceptional pressure” hospitals are under at the start of the year, “with mammoth demand stemming from this ongoing cold weather snap and respiratory viruses like flu – all on the back of 2024 being the busiest year on record for A&E and ambulance teams.”
Critical incidents have been declared at least 11 hospitals.
In recent days, hospitals in Northamptonshire, Cornwall, Liverpool, Hampshire, Birmingham, Plymouth and the Wirral have declared critical incidents.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident on Wednesday, with a statement on its website saying attendances at Warwick Hospital’s emergency department in the last week “have been consistently some of the highest” ever experienced.
The NHS in Gloucestershire also declared a critical incident, with a live A&E tracker on the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s website warning patients that the average time spent in the emergency department at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital is 13 hours.
And the Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident on Wednesday, with the trust experiencing “unprecedented demand” for urgent and emergency services this week and a “high number” of flu cases, a spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust declared the first critical incident in its history on Monday thanks to a combination of “significant patient demand, pressure within local hospitals and flooding”.
It stood it down on Wednesday morning.
