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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Denis Campbell and Pamela Duncan

Surge in flu cases risks overwhelming hospitals in England, says NHS chief

Busy corridor in NHS hospital in England
The figures were published in the latest weekly snapshot of the performance of hospitals in England this winter. Photograph: Lankowsky/Alamy

A rise in flu cases is causing big problems for NHS hospitals in England and leaving a growing number of people in intensive care, amid warnings that festive gatherings will make things worse.

The service is struggling to deal with a “flood” of flu cases that have arrived unusually early and left more than 2,500 patients needing hospital treatment, NHS England disclosed on Thursday.

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