NHS facing “perfect storm” as flu admissions rise 40% in a week

The number of people in hospital with influenza rose by 40% in England last week, with the increase largely driven by high admission rates among young children, figures from NHS England show.1In the week ending 27 November, an average of 482 patients a day were in hospital with flu, compared with 344 the previous week. This included 230 children aged under 5, compared with just 12 children at the same time last year.Sector leaders warned that the NHS was facing “a perfect storm” this winter with high rates of seasonal viruses, ongoing pressures on bed capacity, and chronic workforce shortages.Latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)2 show that currently the highest rates of admission for flu are in children under the age of 5 (6.88 per 100 000) and adults aged 85 and over (6.94 per 100 000).Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said, “Young children are particularly…
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