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The number of people hospitalised with flu in England has quadrupled in a month heaping pressure on NHS services, new figures show.
An average of 4,469 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week, including 211 in critical care.
This is up 17 per cent from 3,818 the previous week, when 184 were in critical care.
It is also more than four times the number on 1 December, when the total stood at 1,098.
The figures have been published in the latest weekly snapshot of the performance of hospitals in England this winter.
The NHS is dealing with a ‘quad-demic’ of respiratory infections, a term coined to describe four conditions expected to heap additional pressure on services in the winter months.
These are flu, Covid-19, respiratory syncytial virus and norovirus.
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said that the new figures showed that “the pressure from flu was nowhere near letting up before we headed into the new year”.
She added: “On top of flu there is also continual pressure from Covid, while RSV and norovirus hospital cases are also higher than last year, with hospitals putting in place an extra 1,300 beds last week than the same time last year in expectation of this continued pressure from viruses and other demand.
“With what looks like an extreme cold snap expected right across England ahead of the weekend, we know the low temperatures can be dangerous for those who are vulnerable or have respiratory conditions so if you are at risk, do try and keep warm and make sure you are stocked up on any regular medication.”
This is a breaking story. More to follow…
