THE number of people in hospital with flu rose by 500 per cent in a month as winter viruses grip.
Some 942 patients had flu in the seven days to Christmas Eve, a huge jump from 160 four weeks ago.
GettyThe number of people hospitalised with flu rises by 500 per cent in a month[/caption]
Another 452 were laid up with diarrhoea and vomiting caused by noroviruses — 61 per cent higher than this time last year.
And there were 3,620 Covid patients on wards — up from 2,275 the month before.
Prof Sir Stephen Powis, of the NHS, said the “storm of pressure” will be made worse by next week’s six-day junior doctors strike.
He said: “There have been huge rises in flu patients and many more norovirus cases than we saw last winter — all on top of industrial action.”
Last week’s three-day strike led to more than 86,329 operations and appointments being rescheduled.
Sir Stephen added: “Unfortunately the impact is likely to be much more severe next week.”
Sir Julian Hartley, of NHS Providers, added: “These figures give an insight into the scale of the challenges faced by trusts and front-line staff.
“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.”