Flu hospitalisations have reached the highest point so far this winter in London, figures revealed today, as NHS leaders warned of “unrelenting” pressure on the health service.
Data published by NHS England showed that an average of 480 hospital beds in the capital were occupied by flu patients in the week up to February 4, a rise of 81 per cent in a fortnight.
A total of 531 patients in London were in hospital with flu on January 29. It is higher than the peak of 500 patients reported on January 13 last year, which was described by health officials as the worst flu season in a decade.
The figures suggest that the flu cases are surging at a later point this year than during a typical winter, when seasonal viruses usually peak in late December and over the New Year.
Uptake of the flu vaccine has also fallen from last season, with just over three-quarters (77.6 per cent) of people aged 65 and over jabbed against the virus.
Nationally, there was an average of 2,478 patients in hospital with flu each day last week - up 11.3 per cent from 2,226 the previous week.
But Covid cases appear to be declining with an average of 3,563 people in hospital with the virus last week – down 11 per cent from 3,983 the previous week and 16 per cent below the winter peak of 4,245 in early January.
Last year, Covid patient numbers peaked at more than 9,000.
Separate figures show that bed occupancy rates in London hospitals remain extremely high. Around 95.7 per cent of beds were occupied on January 29, meaning that under 600 hospital beds were available for patients in the capital.
Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said that rising winter viruses and industrial action by junior doctors had caused “unrelenting” pressure on the NHS.
“Long waits in A&E and hospital corridors are not safe and deeply worrying for patients and their families while exhausted staff are left frustrated that they cannot provide the care they would like due to the never-ending need for healthcare,” she said.
“Winter is not yet over, flu levels are at a new peak, staff absences are high, and more cold weather could be on the horizon. So there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel for staff working all hours to keep patients safe.”
