The number of flu cases has soared across England, with 5,074 patients with the virus being treated in hospitals at the end of December. This marks an increase of 305 percent from the end of November and is up by 352 percent from the same day last year, when there were 1,458 patients. The current figures resemble those from 2022's flu crisis, which saw 5,508 patients hospitalized with the flu by the end of December.
With this surge, eight hospitals across the country reported declaring 'critical incidents', due to sustained pressures causing wait times to skyrocket, some reaching up to 50 hours. The hospitals raising the highest alert level included University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust's four facilities - Queen Elizabeth, Solihull, Good Hope, and Heartlands, along with Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Royal Liverpool Hospital, and Basingstoke and Winchester Hospitals.
Latest available data indicates significant regional variation on the number of patients hospitalized due to flu as of December 29, with the North East and Yorkshire showing the highest numbers: 1,170 beds were occupied by influenza patients. NHS trusts across Sheffield, Northumbria, Tyneside, and Hull reported particularly high cases, with four trusts alone recording 444 hospitalizations.
The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust emerged as the hardest-hit facility, housing 336 patients for influenza, of which 13 are receiving care in intensive units. Birmingham hospitals have reported high flu patient numbers persistently since winter's onset, as per NHS data.
Conversely, the latest NHS statistics show a worrying trend, with only 13 percent of patients deemed 'fit for discharge' actually sent home. Following the North East, the Midlands reported the second highest number of influenza patients, followed by the South East, particularly high within Surrey and Hampshire regions. The spokesperson for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reported: "Beds across both hospitals are full and attendance at our emergency departments is extremely high, which means there is currently no capacity to admit additional patients needing our care."
Additional regions such as the North West had 628 flu hospitalizations, with Manchester reporting the highest figures. The East of England had 527 patients hospitalized primarily across Essex, and London confirmed 530 flu patients as of December 29.
Compounding the issue, positive flu tests have increased by 66 percent from the end of November, with one-third of tests (30.6 percent) returning positive for influenza during the week leading up to December 28. The current situation aligns with 2022 levels but significantly differs from those recorded for 2023.
University Hospitals Birmingham has declared itself facing extreme pressures on its services due to the flu influx just as the first week of January brought about 311 new patients requiring hospital admission. Measures such as mandated mask usage have been instituted across various departments. Chief nurse Margaret Garbett stated: "Despite our attempts to expand ward capacity, A&E remains overcrowded with extended waits to be seen." She has encouraged community members to thoughtfully evaluate their healthcare access, asking those without life-threatening conditions to seek alternative services, like utilizing pharmacies or contacting the national healthcare services hotline 111.
University Hospitals Birmingham ranks as one of the UK's largest NHS Trusts, caring for over 2.2 million patients yearly. It operates four hospitals across the region, including Heartlands, the Queen Elizabeth, Good Hope, and Solihull.
The aggregated data and impending flu season provide clear reflections on the pressures faced by the UK healthcare system, especially as communities continue to sound alarm bells about capacity challenges. Authorities stress the importance of public health measures to mitigate additional strain as the season progresses and urgent attention is needed to address not just flu cases, but the broader healthcare needs of the population.