England's under-pressure hospitals are facing a massive surge in flu admissions - with cases more than 4,000% higher than a year ago.
It is the first time flu has overtaken Covid admissions since the start of the pandemic, and health chiefs fear this year could be worse than the 2017-18 outbreak, which led to an estimated 30,000 deaths.
The NHS said there were more than 1,100 patients in hospitals every day last week, while the number in critical care beds rose by almost 50% in seven days.
This compares with just 25 last year, as NHS bosses warn of a "perfect storm" of winter pressures - with Covid, Strep A and other winter viruses piling pressure on already-stretched services.
Yesterday nurses spoke in heartbreaking detail about staff shortages, burnout and gaps in patient care as they took part in the biggest walkout in the health service's history.
This year's flu outbreak is gathering pace, with admissions up by nearly two thirds in just seven days.
Elderly people aged over 85, and children below five saw the highest rise flu in admissions, health chiefs said.
According to the most recent NHS figures, there were 1,162 flu patients in England's hospitals every day last week - up from 712 the week before. Of these 87 were in critical care beds, up from 60 a week earlier.
NHS data shows flu admissions were 6.8 per 100,000 in the week to December 11 - overtaking the rate of 6.6 per 100,000 for coronavirus.
The Strep A outbreak has led to a huge demand on the 111 service, while the number of adult beds closed due to norovirus was up by a fifth in a week, standing at457.
The NHS said more than 19 of every 20 adult hospital beds were occupied last week, while there was an average of 56,567 NHS staff off work sick every day.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “This huge increase in calls to NHS 111 is understandable with concerns about winter viruses – including Strep A – a top priority for the public, but it is more important than ever that the public uses 111 online where possible to get important information about non-emergency health conditions and to be signposted to the best possible care."
He added: "Earlier this month I warned of a ‘perfect storm’ of winter pressures but the NHS has prepared like never before with the rollout of falls response services, system control centres, additional equivalent beds and extra call handlers so please do come forward for the care you need and get your Covid and flu vaccines if you are eligible."
Dr Conall Watson, a consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “Flu is now circulating widely and we have seen a sharp rise in the rate of hospitalisations for flu this week, particularly among the under-fives and over-85s.
“Admissions are now at the highest point since the 2017-18 season, and we are expecting case numbers to continue increasing as we move further into winter.”
A second strike is set to take place on December 20, after tens of thousands of nurses walked out yesterday.
The industrial action was carried out by the Royal College of Nursing - the first time it's happened in its 106 year history.
Last night chief executive Pat Cullen said: "Today will be a turning point in the campaign for fair nursing pay. At the end of it, ministers find themselves under fresh pressure from unexpected places - their own MPs, NHS leaders and a former chair of the Pay Review Body.
"Each of these groups, for different reasons, wants the government to stop hiding behind its current fig leaf.
"On a bitterly cold day, the public warmth towards nursing staff was immense. For my members, this has been about professional pride, not personal hardship - speaking up for nursing, patients and the future of the NHS."
