Huge surge in Brits hospitalised with flu and norovirus over Christmas as NHS faces strike pressures 

THOUSANDS of Brits were hospitalised with winter viruses last week as the number of flu patients soared six-fold in a month, official data shows.

Some 942 people were on wards with flu in the week up to Christmas Eve, up from 160 four weeks ago and double the 402 a fortnight ago.

PAThousands of Brits were hospitalised with winter viruses last week, official data shows[/caption]

Norovirus also continues to wreak havoc on the health system, with 452 patients in hospital with diarrhoea and vomiting each day — 61 per cent higher than the same time last year.

The NHS figures show there were also 3,620 patients with Covid in hospital on December 24, up 59 per cent from 2,275 the month before.

Separate modelling suggests Covid infections could peak tomorrow.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, of the NHS, said the strain on hospitals will be made even worse by next week’s six-day junior doctor strike.

He said: “These figures demonstrate the storm of pressure the NHS is facing. 

“There have been huge rises in flu patients and many more norovirus cases than we saw last winter — all on top of the added pressure of industrial action.”

More than 86,329 operations and appointments had to be rescheduled due to the three days of strikes by junior doctors that occurred last week.

Sir Stephen said: “Unfortunately the impact is likely to be much more severe next week with six days of industrial action planned by junior doctors, the longest in NHS history.”

Norovirus cases have been surging this year compared to last, and were up from the 281 patients in hospital in the same week in 2022.

The winter vomiting bug causes a range of unpleasant symptoms and is spread by close contact with someone with the virus.

Sir Julian Hartley, of NHS Providers, said: “These figures give an insight into the scale of the challenges faced by trusts and frontline staff heading into the festive period.

“They are in the grip of seasonal pressures with a worrying rise in winter viruses on top of a surge in Covid-19 cases requiring hospital admission.

“We urge the government and unions to think afresh, find a way to resolve the damaging and demoralising industrial dispute which has caused so much disruption for patients.

“There is still time to head off the longest strike in the history of the NHS, which is planned to get under way next week.”

New modelling by Professor Karl Friston, of University College London, suggests Covid cases are set to peak in late December or early January.

He told The i: “The next peak in prevalence is anticipated to be in the next few days, on or around December 30.”