NHS experiencing 'pandemic-level' pressure as flu cases soar - with cold snap to make things worse as temperatures drop

9 January 2025, 13:12 | Updated: 9 January 2025, 13:37

Frontline NHS staff say they are experiencing pandemic-level pressures - as flu levels continue to rise.

Last week the number of patients in hospital in England with the virus hit on average 5,400 per day – around 1,000 higher than a week before.

England’s chief medical officer warned today that NHS staff are under "intense pressure" and facing a situation similar to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The crisis has already forced a dozen hospitals to declare critical incidents, indicating they are struggling to provide safe care and cause lengthy delays.

Health secretary Wes Streeting said he felt "distressed and ashamed" about the situation.

Experts are also concerned that the ongoing cold weather and a possible further drop in temperatures could further strain already overwhelmed hospitals.

Earlier, the Met Office has issued fresh weather warnings for ice as temperatures continue to plummet.

Snow has already disrupted some parts of country causing traffic and travel disruption.

Read more: Met Office issues fresh weather warnings for ice as Brits face further travel disruption

Read more: Amber weather warning for snow issued for parts of UK - as temperatures set to plummet to -16C

The number of people in hospital with flu in England is continuing to increase and is nearly five times the level it was at the start of December, NHS figures show.

An average of 5,408 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week, including 256 in critical care. This is up 21% from 4,469 the previous week, when 211 were in critical care.

It is also nearly five times the number on December 1, 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 average number of flu patients in hospital in England each day last week, 5,408, is much higher than at this point last winter, when the average was just 1,548.

It is also higher than at this stage two years ago in the winter of 2022/23, when the figure stood at 5,262 - although flu numbers had started to fall by then, having previously peaked at 5,441.

An average of 626 hospital beds in England were filled each day last week by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, up from 528 the previous week and higher than the equivalent figure at this point last winter (424) and two years ago (435).

According to the latest NHS weekly data, an average of 5,408 flu patients were in hospitals across England every day last week.In comparison, the figure was 1,548 during the same period last year, although it is slightly lower than at this time two years ago.

Additionally, more than 620 hospital beds were occupied daily by patients with diarrhoea, vomiting, or symptoms resembling norovirus, marking a nearly 20% increase from the 528 recorded the previous week.

This is almost a 50% rise compared to the same time last year, when the figure was 424.

Health Secretary 'distressed and ashamed’ for patients as six hospitals declare critical incidents

On Monday, when asked by LBC's Shelagh Fogarty if what’s going on in the UK's A&Es is a national emergency, Mr Streeting said the NHS is "broken, not beaten".

He added he was "extremely forthright" at the start of his tenure as Health Secretary and attracted some criticism for his comments.

Mr Streeting then said there are more more beds taken up with flu at the moment than usual, but that "annual winter pressures should not lead to an annual winter crisis".

Earlier, the Met Office has issued fresh weather warnings for ice as temperatures continue to plummet.

Ice warnings are in place across southeast Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, northwest England and the Midlands from 4pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday.

South Wales and south west England are also expected to see icy conditions on Friday morning, with a warning in place from 3am to 11am.

Scattered wintry showers may lead to some icy patches and travel disruption, the Met Office said.