The number of patients with flu in hospital has increased by two
thirds in one week amid significant pressure on services, the NHS
said today.
New published data shows the post-pandemic impact of viruses
circulating again with an average of 1,939 flu cases in England’s
hospitals every day last week (up from 1,162).
Weekly winter data shows the wide ranging set of pressures faced
by the NHS ahead of Christmas, with another seven days of rising
flu hospital cases, increased calls to 111 and more staff
sickness.
The number of flu patients in intensive care has also
skyrocketed, up more than 70% on the week before to 149 a day
(from 87).
In mid-December last year, the NHS only had two flu patients a
day in critical care and 32 in general and acute beds (week
ending 19 Dec).
This comes on top of continued near-record demand for the 111
service, with 721,301 calls last week – up from 706,129 the week
before. The volume of calls is significantly more than usual for
this time of year, up almost 60% on the same week in 2021 when
there were 452,644 calls (w/e 19 Dec 2021).
The rise in demand is understood to be partly driven by parents
concerned about symptoms of Strep A.
The NHS has prepared extensively for winter and industrial
action, with plans already in place to manage rising demand
including around the clock system control centres, additional bed
capacity, more mental health support for ambulance services and
community falls services.
There was an average of 60,583 absences due to staff sickness
every day last week, up almost a fifth on last month (51,342 w/e
20 Nov). The number of staff off work because of Covid has
risen by a third since mid-November, to 7,218 a day (5,454 w/e 20
Nov).
As well as the growing number of beds occupied by flu patients,
high bed occupancy was affected by the 13,697 patients on average
each day who were stuck in hospital despite being medically fit
to leave.
An average of 19 in 20 general and acute beds have been occupied
since the NHS started to publish its weekly winter data last
month.
This is despite a huge effort by the NHS to boost bed capacity,
with 100,101 general and acute beds open a day last week compared
to 90,621 this time last year.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical
director, said: “As well as the impact of industrial
action last week, it is clear that the NHS is facing enormous
pressure ahead of Christmas with the number of flu cases in
hospital and in intensive care rising week-on-week, on top of
significant increases in staff sickness rates and near-record
demand for services like 111.
“Despite this, NHS staff continue to deliver a significant amount
for patients – dealing with near record 111 calls as well as
continuing to make progress on covid-19 backlogs.
“With more industrial action scheduled for next week, there will
be disruption but we urge the public to continue to use services
wisely by continuing to call 999 for life-threatening
emergencies, use 111 online for other health conditions, and take
sensible steps to keep yourself and others safe.
“The NHS has prepared for winter extensively with more beds,
extra call handlers as well as the expansion of falls response
services, control centres and respiratory hubs, but with flu
hospitalisations and Covid cases on the rise, the best things you
can do to protect yourself is to get vaccinated if you’re
eligible.”
Background
- The weekly winter situation report is available here
