Record 3,140 flu patients daily in England amid 5-day doctors' strike

Resident doctors are staging a five-day strike in protest over jobs and pay (Danny Lawson/PA) Danny Lawson

England's hospitals remain on high alert as flu cases hit record levels for this time of year, with an average of 3,140 patients hospitalized daily last week. The surge coincides with a five-day strike by resident doctors, creating what health officials describe as an "extremely challenging" situation for the NHS.

The latest figures show an 18 per cent rise from the previous week's 2,660 patients. Last week's numbers far exceed the 2,629 patients recorded at this point last year and dwarf the 648 cases reported at the same time in 2023. Critical care admissions also climbed, with 128 flu patients requiring intensive treatment compared to 106 the week before.

Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England's national medical director, warned the health service faces continued pressure despite signs of slowing growth in some regions. «While some parts of the country will be breathing a sigh of relief with flu cases not rising as quickly as feared, we are nowhere near out of the woods yet,» she said. «Combined with the impact of strikes, a stream of winter viruses means many hospitals will be on high alert in the days ahead.»

Regional variations

The flu surge shows stark geographic differences across England. North West England recorded a four per cent drop in cases, falling from 403 to 386 patients. But South West England saw a 40 per cent jump from 139 to 195, while Eastern England rose 39 per cent from 207 to 287. South East England increased 33 per cent, London by 18 per cent, and the Midlands by 13 per cent.

Scotland reported contrasting trends, with flu cases dropping 20 per cent to 1,918 in the week to 14 December from 2,410 the previous week. The test positivity rate fell from a peak of 27.6 per cent to 22.9 per cent.

Norovirus and similar illnesses add to the burden, with an average of 427 patients daily in hospital last week, up 21 per cent from 354 the previous week.

Strike compounds pressure

The resident doctors' strike, the 14th round of industrial action since 2023, intensifies the strain on emergency departments and hospitals operating at around 94 per cent bed occupancy. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: «Flu continues to put significant strain on the NHS, with record numbers of patients in hospital, and frontline services remaining under enormous pressure.» He added: «The BMA's regrettable decision to pursue strike action at this critical moment is piling on the pressure, but the NHS team has responded brilliantly to keep the show on the road.»

The strike stems from an ongoing dispute between the British Medical Association and the Government over jobs and pay. Healthcare leaders have urged both sides to enter external mediation, with conciliation service Acas stating it stands ready to help resolve the dispute.

Treatment gaps criticized

Professor Sir Peter Horby, director of the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford, criticized the lack of effective flu treatments despite the disease's 90-year history. «We've got 2,500 people in hospital as of today, at least, and we don't have any treatments that are proven to be effective in patients with severe influenza. We've got more treatments for Covid, which is five years old, than we do for flu, which is 90 years old,» he said. He attributed the gap to insufficient investment and inadequate trials.

The professor also noted the absence of mRNA vaccines for flu or a universal vaccine covering different variations, despite such advances for COVID-19.

Mask debate continues

Streeting ruled out a general mask mandate but said the Government supports local hospital and care settings making their own decisions based on conditions. «No, the time has not yet come for everyone to wear masks. But what we are absolutely supporting frontline leaders to do is to determine whether, given the pressures they are under, whether it's the right thing to do to ask visitors to hospitals or other NHS or care settings to wear masks to protect themselves and others,» he told MPs on Wednesday.

Health officials continue urging eligible people to get flu vaccinations. More than 18 million people have received jabs this year, 306,000 more than at the same point last year.

Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).