Under heavy pressure from flu cases this winter, NHS England has seen around 95% of adult beds filled with almost 100,000 patients in hospital each day over this winter period.
While flu cases have since begun to steady in the later half of December, the NHS has warned it is ‘not out of danger yet’, with hospital cases still surpassing 3,000 per week and 94,118 patients in hospital each day.
The ramping up of vaccination programmes has helped to protect more people against flu compared with the same period last year, with a total of around 18.5 million now vaccinated.
However, the NHS is still urging those who are unvaccinated to get their flu vaccine, as cases are still continuing to rise in some areas of England.
This comes as amber and yellow cold health alerts have been issued over the coming days, with temperatures set to drop below freezing.
“I want to thank NHS staff who continue to deliver care under extraordinary pressure, and the public who have come forward to get their flu jab which is helping protect the public and ease pressure on hospitals,” said NHS National Medical Director Professor Meghana Pandit.
“While there are signs of improvement and the NHS is in calmer waters, pressures on hospitals remain incredibly high and we’re not out of danger yet with temperatures set to drop in the coming days.”
“If you haven’t had your flu jab yet and are eligible, please come forward – it’s not too late,” Pandit said.
Health and Social Care Secretary said that the NHS’s resilience over this trying winter period was a result of careful preparation and the service’s continued modernisation.
“This year we planned earlier than ever for winter, and that preparation is paying off,” Streeting said.
“Alongside this, we have delivered more than half a million more flu jabs this year compared to the last – but we are not out of the woods yet, with flu continuing to be a challenge.”
“NHS staff at every level are working extremely hard to deliver the best care possible in the face of ongoing pressures. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has stepped up to help keep the show on the road during a very challenging winter,” he said.
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