THE number of patients in hospital with norovirus is 55 per cent higher than this time last year, new figures show.
Overall cases of the “nasty” projectile vomiting bug have shot up three-fold in the last 12 months, according to NHS and UKHSA data.
Norovirus cases are rising across the UK, figures show
The sharp rise, plus soaring flu and Covid infections, has sparked fears many families could be struck down for Christmas.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “Winter is well and truly with us.”
An average of 566 patients were in hospital with norovirus per day in the week to December 17.
This is a 10 per cent rise on the 506 from the previous seven days, and up 55 per cent from the same week in 2022.
The illness, often called the “winter vomiting bug”, causes sickness and diarrhoea.
Sufferers often also experience headaches, aching arms and legs and a high temperature.
The NHS describes norovirus as “very unpleasant”, but thankfully it usually clears up in a few days.
Social media users have compared it to “the worst hangover ever” as it “really knocks you out” and is “nasty”.
One X user, Mark, also said: “Norovirus 1, our household 0. I just let out a scream of pain when I sneezed.
“Seems that projecting vomiting gave my stomach muscles a proper workout.”
While another, Lisa, wrote: “Spent most of last night and today curled up on the bathroom floor just to be near loo and a sick bucket with norovirus symptoms.”
Some people, often young children and older adults, require urgent medical care due to dangerous dehydration.
Norovirus tends to be more common in the colder months when people spend more time indoors.
It spreads via close contact, touching contaminated surfaces and eating food that has been prepared or handled by someone with the bug.
How to protect your family from norovirus
NOROVIRUS can spread very easily.
Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading.
Alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus.
You should call 111 now if:
You’re worried about a baby under 12 months
Your child stops breast or bottle feeding
A child under five has signs of dehydration (e.g. fewer wet nappies)
You or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
You or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom
Diarrhoea lasts for more than seven days, or vomiting for more than two days
Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E if:
You or your child vomits blood or has sick that looks like ground coffee
You are green vomit
Your child has yellow-green vomit
You or your child might have swallowed something poisonous
You or your child has a stiff neck or pain when looking at bright lights
You or your child has a sudden, severe headache or stomach pain
Source: NHS
Covid cases are also rising, with one in 24 Brits testing positive for the bug less than a week before December 25.
Testing figures estimate that 4.2 per cent of people in England – 2.4million people – currently have the virus.
And the number of people in hospital with it has risen by 38 per cent in a month to 3,390.
Admissions for flu have also rocketed, with an average of 613 people on wards each day compared to 153 a month ago.
Saffron Cordery, of NHS Providers which represents hospital bosses, warned wards are “chock-a-block”.
It comes as a doctors’ strike over pay is blocking planned appointments and discharges.
The latest walkout by the British Medical Association (BMA) began at 7am on December 20 and runs for 72 hours until 7am on December 23, with a further six-day strike planned for early January.
Health bosses now predict this will be the toughest winter in memory.
‘Miserable Christmas’
Professor Sir Stephen said: “Frontline staff are managing even more flu, Covid and norovirus.
“While NHS staff across the country are doing everything they can to get as many people as possible home in time for Christmas, we are aware the latest strikes could impact on almost all routine care including likely difficulties discharging patients.
“We expect this to be the most challenging winter yet with strike action in the mix, and high occupancy in our hospitals is deeply concerning as our hardworking staff juggle seasonal viruses and strikes going into Christmas.”
NHS England data shows an average of 91,125 general adult hospital beds were occupied each day last week, 95.9 per cent of the total, up from 89,700 (95.4 per cent) in the corresponding week last year.
Some 12,728 of these were ready to be discharged, down slightly from the 12,947 the previous week and lower than 13,697 at this point in 2022.
Some 45 per cent of patients ready to leave hospital last week were actually sent home each day, up from 40 per cent at this stage last year.
Meanwhile, calls to NHS 111 rose by 21,000 last week – from 440,722 to 462,043.
Rory Deighton, acute network director at the NHS Confederation, the membership organisation for the healthcare system, said: “While the data shows that the NHS is faring better than last year, it is clear that the system is poised on a knife edge.
“Ambulance handover delays and delayed discharges are still too common and hospital bed capacity is running hot.
“This means that any additional pressure could see performance deteriorate and potentially put patients at risk.”
Caroline Abrahams, chief of Age UK, said on Wednesday: “If you are an older person who is stuck in hospital and can’t get home, that’s a pretty miserable way to spend Christmas.”
The NHS reminded people that they should continue to use services as they normally would when they need urgent medical help – calling 999 and going to A&E in life threatening emergencies.