Hospitals across England are facing a mounting crisis as flu admissions soar to record levels, with health chiefs warning of an "unprecedented wave" of illness just as the National Health Service (NHS) braces for a major strike by resident doctors in the run-up to Christmas. The surge in flu cases, which began nearly a month earlier than usual this year, is straining already stretched hospitals and raising concerns about patient safety and timely care.
According to NHS England, an average of 1,717 patients were in hospital beds each day last week with flu, including 69 in critical care. That figure marks a staggering 56% increase compared to the same week in 2024, when 1,098 patients were admitted, and is seven times higher than in 2023, when there were just 243 daily admissions. The data, published in the NHS’s winter situation report, signals that the UK could be facing its worst flu season in decades—one that has yet to reach its peak.
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national medical director for urgent and emergency care, described the current situation as "incredibly high" and said the numbers "confirm our deepest concerns: the health service is bracing for an unprecedented flu wave this winter." He added, "The NHS has prepared earlier for winter than ever before, but despite that, we know that ballooning flu cases coinciding with strikes may stretch our staff close to breaking point in the coming weeks."
Health officials note that the strain on hospitals is compounded by the early arrival of a more severe flu strain this year. The season’s early onset means pressure on hospitals is likely to intensify throughout December, especially as the festive period approaches. Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned that flu and other seasonal viruses are expected to circulate "more widely in the lead up to Christmas," potentially peaking over the festive period and New Year. "Nobody wants anyone in their family, especially young children, to spend Christmas in hospital," he said. "The best defence against this is a vaccine, but time is running out as it can take up to two weeks from vaccination for your body to build maximum protection."
The UKHSA reported that hospital admission rates for flu stood at 7.8 per 100,000 people last week, up sharply from 4.8 the previous week and nearly double the rate at this point last year. The most vulnerable groups—people aged 85 and over (40.0 per 100,000), those aged 75-84 (21.4), and children aged four and under (21.2)—face the highest risk of severe illness.
Flu jabs are being strongly recommended for everyone aged 65 and over, those under 65 in clinical risk groups, care home residents and carers, pregnant women, close contacts of immunosuppressed individuals, frontline health and social care workers, and children. Professor Redhead urged, "With just a couple of weeks left to ensure maximum immunity from flu for Christmas Day, I urge anyone eligible to come forward to get their jab."
Meanwhile, the NHS is also contending with other seasonal illnesses, though numbers for norovirus and Covid-19 remain lower than in previous winters. Last week, an average of 263 hospital beds were occupied by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, compared to 756 at this point in 2024. Covid-19 hospitalizations are also down, with 825 patients in beds daily, compared to 1,390 last year.
Hospital capacity is further challenged by delays in ambulance handovers. The NHS situation report revealed that 30% of patients arriving by ambulance last week waited at least 30 minutes to be handed over to A&E teams—lower than 36% in the same week last year, but higher than the 27% seen in 2023. About 10% of handovers were delayed by more than an hour, affecting nearly 9,600 patients.
Amid these mounting pressures, the British Medical Association (BMA) has announced a five-day strike by resident doctors, set to run from 7am on December 17 to 7am on December 22, 2025. The union cites a lack of "sufficient progress towards a viable deal on jobs and pay" as the reason for the walkout. The timing of the strike—immediately before the Christmas bank holidays and during the NHS’s busiest period—has drawn sharp criticism from government officials and health leaders.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the strike "irresponsible," warning that it represents a "different magnitude of risk" compared to previous industrial actions. NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey was even more blunt, describing the decision as "something that feels cruel" and "calculated to cause mayhem at a time when the service is really pulling all the stops out to try and avoid that and keep people safe." At a recent board meeting, Mackey said the planned strike had caused "a genuine and palpable feeling of anger, frustration and exasperation" among NHS staff. "I really do hope we can find a way of avoiding this," he added.
Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, echoed these concerns, stating, "The NHS is facing a tidal wave of flu. It’s very worrying to see the figures at a record high for the time of year—and still heading up. That’s alongside all the other winter bugs piling the pressure on the NHS. The last thing anyone needs now is the prospect of another strike by resident doctors bringing yet more disruption and distress for patients. We urge the BMA to see sense, get round the table with the government and end the dispute so we can have all hands on deck in the lead-up to Christmas."
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King’s Fund, summarized the gravity of the situation: "Today’s data confirms that the NHS is entering the most challenging period of the year with pressures hitting the health and care service from all directions. Rising flu waves and industrial action are all adding strain to a system which is already struggling to deliver timely care for patients. The flu season started unusually early this year and is yet to peak, so it is too soon to know how long this surge will be sustained for."
While NHS leaders urge patients to avoid clogging up A&E departments with minor ailments, data shows that from November 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025, there were thousands of such visits: 6,382 for nasal congestion, 83,705 for earache, 96,998 for sore throats, 3,890 for ingrowing nails, 8,669 for itching skin, and 384 for hiccups. NHS bosses are encouraging people to consult pharmacists, GPs, or NHS 111 for these less urgent issues to free up resources for the most seriously ill.
Yet, as Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, points out, the focus on unnecessary A&E visits may be a "smokescreen" for deeper issues. She notes that nearly half a million patients have waited over 12 hours in A&E, primarily due to longstanding problems with capacity, patient flow, and workforce shortages rather than minor ailments.
As England’s hospitals brace for what could be the most challenging winter in recent memory, the coming weeks will test the resilience of the NHS and its staff, as well as the willingness of all parties to find solutions that protect patient care during a critical period.
