Hospitals in England have been hit by a storm of norovirus
infections as the number of beds taken up by patients with the
virus reached a record high last week.
An average 1,160 patients a day were in hospital with norovirus
last week -a 22% surge on the previous week (948) and more than
double the same period last year (509).
The NHS.uk webpage on norovirus
has useful information for the public including symptoms, how to
treat it, and how to stop it spreading.
The latest data shows flu cases in hospital have continued to
fall but are still putting pressure on front-line services, with
an average 1,755 patients with flu in beds last week, including
87 in critical care, down 14% on the week before (2,039).
There were 22 children on average in hospital with RSV each day,
up 83% from 12 the week before and 144% higher than nine last
year. The number of patients with Covid rose slightly on the week
before, up 3% from 952 to 984.
Pressure on hospital capacity remained high last week with 95.4%
of adult beds occupied, and a total of 97,152 patients in
hospital each day.
Delays discharging patients to settings like social or community
care continued to have an impact on capacity, with almost 1 in 7
beds (13,767) taken up by patients who did not need to be there.
Emergency services are continuing to respond to high levels of
demand with 94,356 ambulance handovers, but thanks to the hard
work of staff time lost to ambulance handover delays was down a
fifth on the same period last year (18,688 hours vs 23,494.)
NHS staff have faced one of the most challenging winters it has
ever had with huge demand, high bed occupancy and pressure from
winter viruses with staff delivering more than 29 million Covid,
flu and RSV vaccinations since the start of the rollout in
September.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of
NHS England, said: “It is concerning to see the number
of patients with norovirus hit an all-time high and there is no
let up for hospital staff who are working tirelessly to treat
more than a thousand patients each day with the horrible bug, on
top of other winter viruses.
“To help stop the spread of norovirus, it is important to
remember to wash your hands frequently with soap and water and
avoid mixing with other people until you have not had symptoms
for two days.
“Hospitals continue to run at near capacity, with added pressure
from almost one in seven beds taken up by patients who don't need
to be in hospital, and as these pressure continue it is vital
that the public continue to use 999 and A&E in
life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 – and 111 online –
if you need advice and support for other conditions.”
Health and Social Care Secretary, said: “Today's data shows the NHS is
continuing to grapple with winter pressures across the country
and I want to thank all the NHS staff working tirelessly in
difficult conditions.
“We have taken action to support the NHS this winter, including
delivering millions of vaccinations for people up and down the
country, rolling out the RSV vaccine for the first time and
ending the resident doctor strikes so that staff are on the front
line, not the picket line for the first winter in three years.
“It will take time, but through our Plan for Change, we will get
the NHS back on its feet.”
Amy , Lead Epidemiologist at UKHSA,
said: “Norovirus cases are still exceptionally high
and continue to rise, though we are hopeful that the school half
term provides a break. It remains important to take steps to
avoid passing on the infection.
“Norovirus remains high in other settings like hospitals and care
homes too, and can be more severe in older adults, younger
children and those who are immunocompromised. Please do not visit
hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery
until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don't prepare
food for others as you can still pass on the virus.
“Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus. Wash your hands with soapy
warm water and clean surfaces with bleach-based products where
possible to help stop infections from spreading.”
The latest weekly winter data is available on the NHS England website.
