‘Barely a spare bed in the NHS’, nurses warn as flu cases soar and alarm raised over winter crisis

Patients are being urged to get the flu vaccine amid a surge in hospital admissions - (PA Archive)

NHS leaders have warned hospitals are “busier than ever” for this time of year, as new figures show the number of people in hospital with flu is four times higher than in the same period last year.

Nurses have said there is “barely a spare bed in the NHS” and that staff and patients are “desperately worried” about the coming weeks and months.