NHS bosses are warning that England is facing an unprecedented flu season as the number of flu patients in hospital hits a record high for this time of year.
Figures published on Thursday show flu hospitalization rates have soared by 63 per cent in the last week.
According to NHS figures there was an average of 1,700 patients in hospital with flu last week – that’s 56% higher than at the same time last year.
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BBC reports: It comes as the flu season hit a month earlier than normal this year, with experts warning there appears to be a more severe strain of the virus circulating.
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And NHS bosses are urging patients not to clog up A&E with everyday niggles as new figures show thousands turned to hospitals for minor ailments such as hiccups and ingrowing toenails last winter.
There were more than 200,000 A&E attendances in England from November to February for conditions that could have been dealt with elsewhere, according to NHS England.
This represents more than 2% of all attendances during that four-month period, taking up vital resources at under-pressure A&Es, health bosses said.
Patients with such minor conditions are being advised to seek help elsewhere, including from pharmacists, GPs and NHS 111 – either via the phone or online – as some of them can be managed at home.
Deepest concerns
NHS England urgent and emergency care director Prof Julian Redhead said alongside the high number of flu cases in hospital the NHS was having to plan for more doctor strikes in the lead up to Christmas.
British Medical Association members are taking part in a five-day walkout from 17 December in their long-running pay dispute.
Prof Redhead said: “Today’s numbers confirm our deepest concerns – the health service is bracing for an unprecedented flu wave this winter. Cases are incredibly high for this time of year and there is no peak in sight yet.”
He said staff could be stretched “close to breaking point” in the coming weeks.
Already close to 2% of beds are occupied by flu patients, with the 1,700 average last week the highest at this point of winter since records began in 2010.
And at an NHS England board meeting on Thursday morning chief executive Sir Jim Mackey warned the numbers were continuing to rise sharply.
“We’ve had a really, really big increase,” he said.
He suggested by the end of next week there could be anywhere between 5,000 and 8,000 beds occupied by flu patients. The highest level ever recorded so far is 5,400.
He said with this in mind the forthcoming doctor strike felt “cruel” and “calculated” and aimed at “causing mayhem”.
