The NHS Confederation found that there were 1.06k patients in hospital beds with the flu each day, which comes at four-and-a-half time more than last year, as well as 901 adult beds closed due to norovirus-like symptoms which is 81% higher than last year. Additionally, more than 51.6k staff members absent due to sickness and self-isolation.
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‘These figures are deeply worrying as they provide yet more evidence the NHS is already under considerable strain before the pressures of winter have peaked,’ said Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation. ‘Tackling the capacity problems in social care is going to be critical if we are going to ensure that future winters are not as difficult.’
NHS England found that hospitals were also tackling record flu levels, with cases increasing by 350% in comparison to the previous year. While over 27 million flu jabs have already been administered, the system remains under pressure as ambulances remain delayed, and patients are treated in corridors as ‘there is barely a spare bed.’
‘There is barely a spare bed in our NHS, with sky high flu admissions and thousands stuck in hospital unable to be discharged due to a lack of capacity in social care,’ said Patricia Marquis, Executive Director for RCN England, who suggested that the government could alleviate the upcoming pressures by ‘investing in nursing staff, who give the largest part of patient care in every part of the NHS, is the single best way to transform patient’s experience.’