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NHS leaders have attributed a recent surge in flu and other winter viruses to the social mixing that took place over the Christmas period. Data indicates that last week the average number of patients hospitalized in England with flu reached 2,924, marking a 9% increase compared to the previous week. This rise follows two weeks of declining cases, which had initially sparked optimism that the peak had passed.
According to NHS England, the combination of a severe cold snap alongside the circulation of winter illnesses has placed considerable strain on health services. Hospitals have reported an uptick in slips and falls as a result of icy conditions, alongside increasing numbers of people suffering from respiratory difficulties. There are also mounting concerns about “corridor care,” where emergency department patients are treated in temporary spaces due to a shortage of available hospital beds.
Prof Meghana Pandit, NHS England’s medical director, emphasized the ongoing challenges, stating, “It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter.” Although pressures remain significant, there are indications that the NHS is managing better than in recent winters. For example, delays experienced by ambulances in transferring patients to A&E were reduced over the Christmas period in comparison to last year. Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed this sentiment but cautioned that the difficulties persist, highlighting that the “current cold snap is putting fresh pressure on frontline services.”
Experts have also raised concerns for individuals with pre-existing lung conditions. Sarah Sleet from Asthma and Lung UK described the combination of freezing temperatures and flu as a “deadly duo” that exacerbates symptoms such as breathlessness and wheezing. She advised vulnerable people to protect themselves by breathing through their nose while outdoors, as it helps warm the air before it reaches the lungs, and by loosely wrapping a scarf around their nose and mouth. Meanwhile, flu hospitalizations, while rising, remain significantly lower than last year’s peak of over 5,000 cases. Other winter illnesses such as Covid-19 and norovirus have also contributed to hospital admissions.
Despite some improvements, health sector experts warn that the pressures on the NHS remain unsustainable. Sarah Woolnough from The King’s Fund pointed out that the current situation hinders the ability to deliver optimal patient care. The Health Services Safety Investigations Body has highlighted that corridor care is becoming a normalized practice in hospitals nationwide, with emergency patients being treated in waiting areas, corridors, and even ambulances outside premises due to bed shortages. Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, described the emergency care situation as a deepening crisis and warned that “people [are] dying as a direct consequence,” calling for urgent intervention. Health Secretary Streeting acknowledged the gravity of the situation, describing it as “bloody horrible” and expressed his longstanding opposition to patients receiving care in such conditions
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