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Flu Hospitalisations Rise 9 Percent in England After Holidays

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Flu patient numbers in hospitals increased by 9% last week
  • Overall bed occupancy in England rose to nearly 92%
  • Hospitals reported more injuries from slips and falls during cold snap

Hospitals in England saw a 9% increase in patients with flu last week, following a period of decline and coinciding with the Christmas and New Year period.

NHS England reported that the rise in flu cases came after two weeks of falling hospital admissions for the virus. The increase followed public gatherings over the holiday season, which occurred before the latest data was collected.

Alongside the uptick in flu cases, hospitals also saw more patients with norovirus and Covid. According to NHS England, these increases contributed to a 5% rise in overall bed occupancy, reaching just under 92% across England’s hospitals.

During the same period, hospitals documented a higher number of injuries from slips and falls, which were linked to icy conditions caused by a cold snap. This added further demand to hospital services already managing increased viral infections.

What the numbers show

  • Flu patient numbers in hospital beds rose by 9% last week
  • Overall hospital bed occupancy increased by 5% to nearly 92%
  • More than 18.6 million flu vaccines delivered this season

NHS England stated that over 18.6 million flu vaccines have been delivered so far this season. This figure is more than half a million higher than the number of vaccines distributed at the same point last year.

NHS National Medical Director Professor Meghana Pandit said in a statement that the NHS continues to experience pressure and encouraged the public to seek care as usual and to get vaccinated. The statement highlighted the ongoing need for vaccination and routine care access during the winter period.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the NHS is better prepared than last year. He stated that the recent cold weather has added new challenges for hospitals and urged eligible individuals to receive the flu vaccine.

Both NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have stated that vaccination remains a key measure in managing winter pressures. The agencies continue to monitor hospital admissions and occupancy rates as the season progresses.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

Sources and further reading

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