The NHS Faced with a “quad-decimal” health crisis as winter hits, with hospitals “busier than ever” at this time of year, a top health minister has said.
The number of people in hospital with flu in England has more than quadrupled compared with last year, while cases of Covid, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are also on the rise.
Prof. Stephen Powis, the NHS’s national medical director, said he feared the number of admissions would increase further unless public action was taken against flu, Covid and RSV. RSV It is a common cause of coughs and colds, and can lead to bronchiolitis or pneumonia especially in children and the elderly.
His warning came as the number of people in hospital in England with the flu has more than quadrupled the figure at this point last year.
According to this year’s first NHS winter situation report, an average of 1,099 flu patients in England each day last week, including 39 in critical care, were in beds.
This bitterly raised the equivalent numbers in the same week in 2023, when the total was 243 with nine in critical care. It is also at this point above the year 2022, when there were an average of 772 flu patients.
Powisia said that with the long winter months to come, there are concerns about unprecedented pressure on health services.
“For some time there have been warnings of ‘triple-demic’ Covid, flu and CP this winter,” he said. “But when cases of norovirus arise, this can quickly become a ‘quad-demic’, so it’s important that if you haven’t had your Covid or flu vaccination, to follow the lead of thousands of others, come out and be protected as soon as possible,” he said.
“The NHS is busier than ever heading into winter, with flu and norovirus numbers rising sharply in hospital – and we’re still only at the start of December, so expect pressure to increase and a long winter ahead. us
“Ambulances are also facing huge demand, with thousands of extra patients and other pressures impacting delays, which is why our robust plans, including services like urgent care centers and same-day emergency care, are so important this winter.”
His message was echoed by England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, who published a paper in 10 showing a rise in river cases compared to the previous year.
Now the flu is fast. Antiviral flu drugs can now be used in primary care.
If you are eligible, please get vaccinated.
For healthcare workers, getting vaccinated helps protect you, your patients and your colleagues.https://t.co/eo5MFz6Hvs pic.twitter.com/F00W1nI6oh
— Professor Chris Whitty (@CMO_England) December 3, 2024
Figures on the site of the winter report average of 751 adult hospitals in England in England were filled last week by patients with diarrhea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, compared with 406 last year and 318 in 2022 at this point.
The number of beds filled for patients with norovirus symptoms, children in the pediatric ward, averaged 756, up to 86% filled in the equivalent week in 2023.
There were an average of 1,390 patients in hospital rooms in England each day last week who had been tested for Covid. This is lower than the average of 2,344 patients at the equivalent point last year, and 4,969 more in 2022.
“As always, it is important for the public to continue to support NHS staff over the winter, always call 999 in an emergency and use the NHS 111 service via the NHS app, online or by phone, to get advice on how to get the right help for non-emergency health needs,” he said. Prof. Powis.
A report on the state of the NHS also shows that 36% of patients arriving by ambulance in hospitals in England last week waited at least 30 minutes to be delivered to A&E teams, higher than 27% in the equivalent week last year and 31% at this point. 2012
Sixteen percent of ambulance calls last week, or 14,805 patients, were delayed more than an hour, compared with 10% at this point in 2023 and 15% in 2022.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said the annual winter crisis for the NHS had become “the norm” and this had to change. “Our NHS heritage is broken but not beaten, and staff are already working hard to deal with increases in grants this winter,” he said.
“For too long, the annual winter crisis has become the norm. We will deliver long-term reforms through our 10-year health plan, which will create a health service that works for us all year round.
“I would also like to encourage anyone who chooses to over 27 million people who have already reached their disease, RSV and Covid stings – it is better to protect yourself this winter”.