Flu hit hospitals in England even harder last week, as a ‘tidal
wave' of infections led to a 70% increase in hospital cases
across just seven days.
The NHS is encouraging eligible people to get vaccinated without
delay if they haven't done so already to avoid “festive flu” with
an average of 1,861 patients with flu in hospital every day last
week – up from 1,099 in the previous week and a staggering 3.5
times higher compared to the same time last year.
Norovirus and RSV are also on the rise – norovirus cases are up
by 10% from last week and almost two thirds since (64%) last year
and 152 children were in hospital with RSV each day, up by over
two fifths on the same period last year (107 w/e 10 Dec 2023).
The “tidal wave” of seasonal illnesses is prompting further
“quad-demic” concerns across the NHS with staff pulling out the
stops to deliver almost 28 million vaccines so far in convenient
places like Christmas markets, football clubs, and supermarkets.
Separate monthly performance data, also published today, shows
just how hard NHS staff have been working to deliver care to
patients with record numbers of elective treatments and tests and
checks in October – showing signs of further improvement in NHS
productivity.
Despite busier urgent care services going into winter, the
waiting list fell from 7.57 million to 7.54 million with staff
delivering a record 1.67 million treatments in a month, up 6% on
the same month before the pandemic (1.57 million in Oct 2019).
The estimated number of patients waiting in October was 6.34
million.
The number of patients waiting longer than 18 weeks (3.1 million)
is the lowest since June 2023, while the number of waits longer
than a year (234,885) is now the lowest since December 2020 and
down 46% on the peak of 436,127 in March 2021.
The NHS also delivered:
- A record number of diagnostic tests and checks – 2.54 million
– a fifth more activity than pre-pandemic (2.1 million in Oct
2019). The proportion of patients waiting more than six weeks for
checks (20.7%) was the lowest since March 2020.
- More people than ever before were diagnosed with cancer or
received the all clear within four weeks (222,888) with the NHS
meeting the 28-day target in five of the last six months (77.1%
against 75% operational target).
Pressure on urgent and emergency services did not let up last
month, with more ambulance contacts than any other November (1.18
million), up 6% on last year (1.1 million in Nov 2023). There was
also a significant increase in the most serious Category 1
incidents, up almost a third last month on the same period
pre-pandemic (84,266 vs 63,227).
It was the busiest November on record for A&E staff with a
total of 2.31 million attendances, 7% higher than last year (2.17
million in Nov 2023).
Yet despite the extra demand, teams saw 153,906 more patients
within four hours than in November 2023, with performance against
the four-hour target up more than two percentage points on last
year (72.1% vs 69.8% in Nov 2023).
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.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical
director, said: “The tidal wave of flu cases and
other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning for
patients and for the NHS – the figures are adding to our
‘quad-demic' worries.
“While the NHS has plans in place to manage additional demand
over the busy winter period, with one week left to book your
vaccine, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting booked
in to protect yourself against serious illness and to avoid
‘festive flu.'
“Despite the extreme winter pressures early in the year, the
figures out today show further improvements towards boosting NHS
productivity – not only is the covid backlog reducing but more
people than ever before received treatment, a faster cancer
diagnosis or a diagnostic check – which shows the truly
remarkable efforts from staff.
“We will work with government to bring the waits for care even
further with the 10-year health plan next year helping us to
transform services for the future, but as the incredibly busy
winter continues, I would encourage everyone to remember to use
NHS 111 in the first instance and only use A&E and 999 in
life-threatening emergencies.”
Health and Social Care Secretary said: "Since the general election, we have
been ramping up to delivering the extra 2 million appointments a
year, ending the strikes, and investing more in the health
service.
"As a result, the NHS today is delivering a record number of
treatments and waiting lists have begun to fall. There's a long
way to go, but through our Plan for Change we will get patients
seen on time again.
“With A&Es facing record demand, we are continuing to
encourage people to protect themselves, their family, and the NHS
by getting vaccinated before it's too late.”
Background
- The NHS monthly performance statistics can be viewed
here. The weekly winter
situation report for week ending 8 December is available
here.
