Steve Barclay has claimed that flu and COVID-19 have led to massive pressures on the NHS, while health leaders say structural problems such as staffing and recruitment need to be addressed.
When asked about the winter crisis in the NHS, MR Barclay blamed a combination of very high rates of flu, persistent and high levels of COVID, continuing concerns particularly among many parents around Strep A, as well as primary care services, such as GPs, being shut down for Christmas.
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‘Whilst the “twindemic” of flu and COVID19 are contributors, the fundamental problem remains a significant shortage of workforce leading to woefully inadequate inpatient bed and social care capacity. Current levels of staff burn out and poor morale markedly exacerbate this issue,’ said Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine.
‘Clear and regular communication, an urgent workforce plan and engendering a belief in patients and staff that the situation can improve are essential in the short term.’
New data from NHS England shows there were 3746 patients a day in hospital with flu last week, up from 520 a month ago. Of those in hospital last week, 267 were in critical care beds. As viruses re-circulate after a hiatus during the pandemic the NHS has continued to see hospital cases grow week on week, up almost 80% in seven days. This time last year, there were only 34 patients in hospital with flu, two of whom were in in critical care.
‘Sadly, these latest flu numbers show our fears of a ‘twindemic’ have been realised, with cases up seven fold in just a month and the continued impact of Covid hitting staff hard, with related absences up almost 50% on the end of November,’ said Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director.
‘As well as flu, the NHS continues to be under significant pressure, with high bed occupancy, more than 12,000 beds taken up by patients medically fit for discharge, and demand for the 111 service remaining high, so please do make the most of 111 online, and only call 999 or visit A&E in an emergency.’