NHS officials say fears of a ‘twin epidemic’ of flu and Covid healthcare have now come true.
Official data shows hospital admissions for flu in England are up sevenfold on the previous month, with nearly 4,000 patients admitted to hospital each day last week from the virus.
Almost 9,000 patients on the wards have now contracted Covid – the highest number in two months – as the virus forces 8,000 staff to call in sick every day.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, said the data showed that fears of a ‘twindemia’ of the two viruses were ‘realizable’.
The flu has swept through the NHS in England, the health service’s latest round of data shows, with more than 3,800 admissions for the virus as of December 23. Graphic shows number of beds in flu wards (red) and number of ICU beds occupied with virus (blue)
Data from NHS England today showed that an average of 63,000 staff were out of work every day in the week before Christmas (red line). Around 8,000 of those absent were due to Covid (blue line)
The latest information on daily admissions of Covid shows that almost 1,300 people infected with the virus were admitted to hospital on 19 December. The number increased by a third every week
The number of people infected with Covid occupying beds in wards across England rose to more than 8,600 on 21 December, the latest available data shows. The number increased by 29 percent in a week
Dozens of patients being treated in corridors, waiting 40 hours in an emergency room and warnings to think twice about calling 999: Why are the NHS and YOUR hospital struggling?
Several hospitals and ambulances urged the public to stay away and not call 999 unless their lives were in danger, while some warned dialing procedures would be “scrutinised”.
Dubbed ‘Flu Nami’, the flu outbreak that swept through the NHS hospitalized 3,746 people every day for the week ending 25 December.
Of these, 267 were in intensive care beds, meaning they were in an extremely serious condition.
The total number of hospital admissions increased by 80 percent compared to the previous week.
This is also a sevenfold increase from November – when only 520 patients contracted the winter virus – and more than 100 times more than last December, when only 34 flu patients were hospitalized, two of whom required critical care.
Flu admissions peaked on December 23, when 3,880 patients were in general beds and 288 in intensive care.
The number fell slightly on Christmas Day, with 3,849 general patients and 279 intensive care admissions, according to the latest available data.
Flu pressure is exacerbated by staff briefings and illness due to Covid.
The latest data on Covid hospitalizations shows that almost 1,300 people infected with the virus were admitted on 19 December. That number increased by a third every week.
The number of people with Covid going to sleep rose to more than 8,600 on 21 December, the latest available data shows. The number increased by 29 percent in a week.
Meanwhile, NHS figures show an average of 63,296 staff were off sick every day in the week before Christmas – an increase of 20 per cent in one month.
Of those, 8,029 (12 percent) blamed Covid for their absence. By comparison, as of the same date in November, only 5,441 contracted the virus.
December 21 was the worst day for NHS workers with 66,191 disabled that day.
Covid-related absenteeism also peaked on December 21, with 8,525 employees suffering from the virus.
Staff illnesses are putting increasing pressure on the healthcare system as hospitals have fewer doctors to care for more patients.
MailOnline revealed yesterday that flu vaccine uptake among NHS workers this year was at its lowest level since 2012.
Professor Powis, the NHS’s national medical director, said the data showed fears of “twindemia” putting additional pressure on the NHS had come true.
“Unfortunately, these latest flu figures show that our fears of ‘tindexemia’ have come true,” he said.
He also pointed to the problems with bed blockers, patients who are well enough to leave hospital but need care at home but cannot walk due to a lack of social care capacity.
“In addition to the flu, the NHS remains under a lot of pressure, with high beds and more than 12,000 beds occupied by patients who are medically fit to be discharged,” he said.
Ambulance transfer delays peaked on December 19 when more than 3,000 patients waited more than an hour in the back of an ambulance that could not be unloaded onto a hospital bed
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, said the data showed that fears of a ‘twindemia’ of the two viruses were ‘realizable’.
Bed blockers reduce hospital capacity for more admissions.
The crisis is a factor in record wait times for emergency rooms and ambulances stuck outside hospitals unable to drop off patients.
The NHS this month recorded its worst day this winter for ambulance handovers, data released today shows.
On December 19, more than 3,000 patients were trapped in ambulances for more than an hour, unable to be handed over to hospital staff due to a lack of beds.
Beds, in NHS terminology, are not just the bed itself, but also the medical staff needed to care for patients.
The combination of rising winter viruses, Covid, staff illness and bed blockers have been cited as factors in several NHS trusts in England reporting critical incidents in the past week, meaning patient safety is at risk.
Saffron Cordery, the interim director of NHS Providers, said: “It is very worrying to see the number of flu admissions increasing so sharply alongside so many other burdens, contributing to an unacceptably high staffing rate which makes it much more difficult to maintain a safe. , high level level to ensure quality care.
“Increasing staff illnesses is another problem that exacerbates a severe staff shortage.
“This will have an impact on care across the whole system, including ambulances, hospital emergency departments, mental health and community services.”
She added: “The concern is that we could see further delays as pressure mounts and the potential further impact of union action in the new year.
“There are no easy quick fixes, but a pay resolution that the government and unions come together to push through would be an important step in the right direction.”
Others banned visitors to stem the flow of winter lice into hospitals and reinstated mask requirements.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
