Hospitals across England are grappling with a significant early-season surge in flu cases, with patient numbers soaring more than 50% above last year's levels, according to the first official winter snapshot from NHS England.
Sharp Rise in Hospital Admissions
The latest weekly figures show that an average of 1,717 patients with flu were occupying hospital beds each day last week. Among these, 69 were in critical care beds. This marks a stark increase from the same period in 2022, when 1,098 flu patients were recorded in NHS hospitals, representing a 56% rise year-on-year.
The data forms part of NHS England's inaugural weekly winter performance report, designed to monitor the strain on health services during the coldest months.
An 'Unusually Early' and Unpredictable Season
Health leaders have expressed concern over the timing and scale of the outbreak. Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of the health think tank The King's Fund, stated that the figures confirm the NHS is "entering the most challenging period of the year".
"Rising flu waves and industrial action are all adding strain to a system which is already struggling to deliver timely care for patients," Woolnough said. She highlighted that the flu season started unusually early this year and has not yet reached its peak, making it difficult to predict how long the current surge will last.
Broader System Under Strain
The weekly report also shed light on wider pressures within the emergency care system. It found that 30% of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England last week experienced delays of at least half an hour before being handed over to A&E teams.
While this figure is slightly lower than the 36% recorded the previous week, it underscores the ongoing challenges facing emergency departments as they contend with increased seasonal demand alongside existing backlogs and staff shortages.
The combined pressures of flu, other seasonal viruses, and planned industrial action are creating a perfect storm for the health service, threatening to disrupt efforts to reduce waiting lists and improve response times.
