Number of patients in hospital with flu quadruples over last month in England

Latest figures show that the number of patients in hospital with flu in England has quadrupled over the last month.

As of 29th December, there were 5,074 people in hospital with flu. This was up from 1,190 at the end of November, meaning flu admissions to hospital have quadrupled in a month.

In week commencing 29th December, there were an average of 4,469 patients with flu in hospital every day.

This is nearly 3.5 times higher than at this time last year, and 211 were in critical care.]

The NHS is warning that pressure is likely to continue early in 2025, with amber cold health alerts for England issued by UKHSA as temperatures in the coming days are set to drop below freezing.

Hospitals are still experiencing pressure from a range of viruses, with an average of 723 patients with norovirus in hospital in the week ending 22nd Dec, and 528 patients each day last week, 40% higher than 378 the same week last year.

There was also an average of 74 children with RSV in hospital every day last week, up almost half on 50 for the same period in 2023, as well as an average of 1,184 beds occupied by patients with COVID.

While the national vaccination booking system has now closed, those eligible can still get protected by visiting a COVID-19 walk-in vaccination site or finding a pharmacy offering the flu vaccine.

Ahead of winter the NHS put in place measures to manage extra demand including upgraded 24 hour co-ordination centres, support for frequent users of A&E services, strengthening same day emergency care and providing more care in the community.

To prepare for an expected rise in winter pressure, the NHS had 1,301 more beds open last week than the same period last year.

There was an average of 648 more beds occupied each day compared to last year.

Further figures show the pressure on urgent and emergency services with a total of 98,118 ambulance handovers to hospitals last week, and 465,442 calls received by NHS 111.

Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: “These latest figures show the pressure from flu was nowhere near letting up before we headed into the New Year, skyrocketing to over 5,000 cases a day in hospital as of the end of last week and rising at a very concerning rate.

“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.

“Please continue to use NHS 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only use 999 or attend A&E in life-threatening emergencies.”