NHS warning over Christmas gatherings as flu cases soar in worst December for three years
Trending News
4 days, 2 hours ago

NHS warning over Christmas gatherings as flu cases soar in worst December for three years

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The fresh NHS figures, which show hospital admissions for flu cases jumped by more than 40 per cent in a week, come as top medics warned of a rise in patient deaths this winter while the system faces mounting pressures over a lack of emergency beds and ambulance services, among a raft of issues plaguing healthcare. open image in gallery The fresh NHS figures, which show hospital admissions for flu cases jumped by more than 40 per cent in a week As flu cases soar the NHS is also battles higher rates of norovirus, and worsening pressures on ambulance services, according to data for last week. Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at think tank The Health Foundation, said: “While the current pressures on the health service are being exacerbated by flu and other seasonal viruses, the struggles in and around hospitals are more a reflection of lack of resilience in the NHS after a decade of austerity before the pandemic.” An average of 711 hospital beds in England were also filled each day last week by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, down from 837 the previous week but higher than the equivalent figure at this point in 2023 and 2022. The NHS situation report also shows that 34.5 per cent of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England last week waited at least 30 minutes to be handed over to A&E teams.

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History of this topic

Terrifying quad-demic could ruin your Christmas gatherings, warn health chiefs - as spiralling cases of potentially deadly vomiting bug hit 10-year high
3 days, 22 hours ago

Terrifying quad-demic could ruin your Christmas gatherings, warn health chiefs - as spiralling cases of potentially deadly vomiting bug hit 10-year high

Daily Mail  

Brits were today warned of an alarming upsurge in contagious norovirus as cases hit a decade-high. Rates of the vomiting bug, which can also cause diarrhoea, are also more than double the levels seen pre-Covid for this time of year, fresh figures show. Separate flu figures also released today by the UK Health Security Agency show cases and hospitalisations have …

Fresh flu warning as explosion shows 'no signs of letting up' - with hospitalisations up 50 per cent in a week, say health chiefs
4 days, 4 hours ago

Fresh flu warning as explosion shows 'no signs of letting up' - with hospitalisations up 50 per cent in a week, say health chiefs

Daily Mail  

Britain is being battered by a tidal wave of festive flu, health chiefs warned today. Surveillance programmes that monitor the UK's outbreak suggest flu hospital admissions in England have already surpassed last year's peak and are running at their highest level so far this winter. Surveillance programmes that monitor the UK's outbreak suggest flu hospital admissions in England have already …

Is the NHS in more trouble than usual this winter?
1 week, 3 days ago

Is the NHS in more trouble than usual this winter?

The Independent  

Rather like Santa, mince pies, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and the Mrs Brown’s Boys special, the NHS winter crisis has become something of an annual ritual. Indeed, this winter has brought what the NHS officially calls a “quad-demic” of viral illnesses, the seasonal peak has arrived early, and the health service is already in trouble. Stephen Powis, NHS medical director and …

‘Tidal wave of flu’ warning for NHS in England this winter, new figures show
1 week, 4 days ago

‘Tidal wave of flu’ warning for NHS in England this winter, new figures show

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for NHS England, said: “The tidal wave of …

Are you worried about the NHS this winter? Join The Independent Debate
1 week, 4 days ago

Are you worried about the NHS this winter? Join The Independent Debate

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The NHS is bracing for a challenging winter as health experts …

Flu crisis in numbers: Where cases are rising as NHS struggles under strain
2 weeks, 3 days ago

Flu crisis in numbers: Where cases are rising as NHS struggles under strain

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The latest NHS data released today shows that flu hospitalisations are …

‘Barely a spare bed in the NHS’, nurses warn as flu cases soar and alarm raised over winter crisis
2 weeks, 3 days ago

‘Barely a spare bed in the NHS’, nurses warn as flu cases soar and alarm raised over winter crisis

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, urged eligible people to get vaccinated as …

Cases of flu ‘rising rapidly’ as Brits urged to get vaccinations
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Cases of flu ‘rising rapidly’ as Brits urged to get vaccinations

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Cases of winter flu are “rising rapidly” in England as the …

Urgent health warning to winter sun-seeking Brits as top holiday destination is gripped by multiple outbreaks
1 month, 1 week ago

Urgent health warning to winter sun-seeking Brits as top holiday destination is gripped by multiple outbreaks

Daily Mail  

Older Brits flying to Tenerife and Lanzarote for a spell of winter sun must wear a mask in public places and have protective vaccinations before travelling, health chiefs have warned. Cases of Covid, flu and respiratory syncytial virus have risen five-fold in the region since August, triggering an official warning by the Canary Islands Association of Primary Care Physicians. Ana …

Now it's a QUADRUPLEDEMIC: Experts warns UK of FOUR highly contagious winter bugs sweeping the country
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Now it's a QUADRUPLEDEMIC: Experts warns UK of FOUR highly contagious winter bugs sweeping the country

Daily Mail  

Brits were today told to brace themselves for a 'quadrupledemic' amid an upsurge in norovirus cases. Norovirus can appear similar the symptoms of Covid, with both viruses causing chills, fever and headaches Figures released by the UK Health Security Agency today revealed cases of the winter bug jumped 41 per cent in just a fortnight But sufferers, who may also …

Doctors issue warning for upcoming ‘tripledemic’
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Doctors issue warning for upcoming ‘tripledemic’

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “A ‘tripledemic’ refers to side-by-side outbreaks of three respiratory …

Flu and norovirus hospital admissions hit new winter high as doctors warn of NHS ‘permacrisis’
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Flu and norovirus hospital admissions hit new winter high as doctors warn of NHS ‘permacrisis’

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Data also shows an average of 688 patients were …

Norovirus contagious period: Highly contagious winter vomiting bug cases surge
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Norovirus contagious period: Highly contagious winter vomiting bug cases surge

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Cases of …

Covid and norovirus hospital admissions soar as NHS leaders issue cold weather warning
11 months ago

Covid and norovirus hospital admissions soar as NHS leaders issue cold weather warning

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. He said: “These figures show this continues to be …

Rise in patients with winter viruses puts further pressure on hospitals
11 months, 1 week ago

Rise in patients with winter viruses puts further pressure on hospitals

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. An average of 1,548 people were in hospital each day last week with flu, …

Lack of virus exposure due to Covid may be driving ‘never-ending’ colds, experts warn
11 months, 1 week ago

Lack of virus exposure due to Covid may be driving ‘never-ending’ colds, experts warn

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Winter is the most likely season to catch a cold but …

COVID-19 intensifies across California, with the worst probably still to come
11 months, 2 weeks ago

COVID-19 intensifies across California, with the worst probably still to come

LA Times  

The winter COVID-and-flu season is ramping up in California and nationwide, with doctors and other experts saying the worst of the respiratory illness season is still to come. “And we’re probably not quite to the zenith of it yet,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “Looking at some of the data that …

Flu and COVID infections got worse over the holidays, with more misery expected, CDC says
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Flu and COVID infections got worse over the holidays, with more misery expected, CDC says

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The flu season in the U.S. is getting worse but it’s too soon to tell how much holiday gatherings contributed to a likely spike in illnesses. The flu season generally peaks between December and February; CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said she expects it to peak by the end of this month. According to CDC estimates, since …

Flu and COVID infections got worse over the holidays, with more misery expected, CDC says
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Flu and COVID infections got worse over the holidays, with more misery expected, CDC says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Combination of strikes and rise in flu and Covid ‘a perfect storm for the NHS’
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Combination of strikes and rise in flu and Covid ‘a perfect storm for the NHS’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The “double whammy” of strikes …

Flu and Covid hospital admissions hit highest level this winter as NHS under strain from strikes
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Flu and Covid hospital admissions hit highest level this winter as NHS under strain from strikes

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Children aged two or three years are also eligible for a quick and painless nasal …

Flu patient numbers double in fortnight as NHS faces ‘storm’ of pressures
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Flu patient numbers double in fortnight as NHS faces ‘storm’ of pressures

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. An average of 942 people were in hospital each day last week with flu, …

Flu admissions double a week before junior doctors’ longest strike
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Flu admissions double a week before junior doctors’ longest strike

The Telegraph  

Flu admissions have more than doubled amid a surge in winter viruses, the week before junior doctors stage their longest strike to date. ‘Many more norovirus cases’ Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, said: “These figures demonstrate the storm of pressure the NHS is facing, with huge rises in flu patients over the last few weeks and many more …

COVID-19 and flu cases are rising in California. How bad will the holiday uptick be?
1 year ago

COVID-19 and flu cases are rising in California. How bad will the holiday uptick be?

LA Times  

COVID-19 and flu are rising across California, sparking new warnings from health officials to take precautions as the wider winter holiday season looms. “Getting tested and treated early can prevent you from getting severely ill, being hospitalized and can potentially save your life.” Relatively speaking, COVID-19, flu and another ailment — respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — aren’t at the …

Flu and Covid-19 hospital admissions in England remain lower than last year
1 year, 1 month ago

Flu and Covid-19 hospital admissions in England remain lower than last year

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Flu and Covid-19 hospital admissions in England have fallen and …

Flu and Covid warning ahead of seasonal spike in cases
1 year, 1 month ago

Flu and Covid warning ahead of seasonal spike in cases

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Flu and Covid-19 hospital admission rates in England are lower than …

Respiratory virus season threatens to be a challenge again. Getting vaccinated now can help
1 year, 2 months ago

Respiratory virus season threatens to be a challenge again. Getting vaccinated now can help

CNN  

CNN — The first signs of respiratory virus season are just starting to show in the United States, but experts stress the importance of getting vaccinated now to stay healthy through the winter and reduce strain on the health care system. “With the addition of a third virus that can cause severe disease, even an average respiratory season can place …

Flu jab delay will cause ‘chaos’ and put vulnerable people at risk ahead of difficult winter, GPs warn
1 year, 4 months ago

Flu jab delay will cause ‘chaos’ and put vulnerable people at risk ahead of difficult winter, GPs warn

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Delays to …

Norovirus warning as cases now twice as high as last year
1 year, 10 months ago

Norovirus warning as cases now twice as high as last year

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A total of 20 per cent of ambulance patients …

Flu hospital admissions drop sharply in fresh sign infections have peaked
1 year, 11 months ago

Flu hospital admissions drop sharply in fresh sign infections have peaked

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Admissions stood at 2.7 per …

Flu patient numbers in England’s hospitals start to fall after surge
1 year, 11 months ago

Flu patient numbers in England’s hospitals start to fall after surge

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The number of flu patients in hospital in England has …

The covert winter wave of Covid-19
1 year, 11 months ago

The covert winter wave of Covid-19

BBC  

The covert winter wave of Covid-19 Getty Images The coronavirus that caused the pandemic has largely vanished from public discourse – but it's still causing deaths. "We've come to really pay attention when there are very large spikes," says Denis Nash, an epidemiologist at the City University of New York. "The people we’re seeing hospitalised tend to be those who …

Christmas Covid infections spiked to highest level since summer
1 year, 11 months ago

Christmas Covid infections spiked to highest level since summer

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Just shy of 6,000 people entered English hospitals with coronavirus in the week to 2 …

Flu and Covid ‘twindemic’ hits NHS amid spike in hospital admissions
1 year, 11 months ago

Flu and Covid ‘twindemic’ hits NHS amid spike in hospital admissions

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The NHS …

Covid cases in your area as hospitalisations rise by a third before Christmas
1 year, 11 months ago

Covid cases in your area as hospitalisations rise by a third before Christmas

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. While admissions to intensive care and high dependency units remained relatively low in most regions …

Fewer than 20% of Minnesotans are current on COVID-19 shots
2 years ago

Fewer than 20% of Minnesotans are current on COVID-19 shots

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — Fewer than 20% of Minnesotans are current on their COVID-19 shots ahead of the Christmas holiday, and health officials said Tuesday that that has them worried. “The numbers have been improving recently, and though this is better than the vast majority of the nation, it is way below where we would like to see it,” State Epidemiologist Ruth …

‘A huge burden’: L.A. hospitals strained by COVID surge, very bad flu season
2 years ago

‘A huge burden’: L.A. hospitals strained by COVID surge, very bad flu season

LA Times  

Registered nurse Carolyn Tan checks on a COVID-19 patient at White Memorial Hospital in Boyle Heights in 2021. A “tripledemic” of COVID-19, the flu and RSV is hitting Southern California hard, sending patients to the emergency room in droves and presenting a steep new challenge for a healthcare system already worn thin by nearly three years of the pandemic. Huntington …

Now CDC calls for people to wear masks over Christmas to stop spread of FLU and RSV
2 years ago

Now CDC calls for people to wear masks over Christmas to stop spread of FLU and RSV

Daily Mail  

RSV may finally be starting to slow with case and test positivity figures dropping The CDC reports more than 30,000 confirmed flu cases last week, a new high Nearly all US states are recording 'very high' levels of flu circulation this week America's leading health officials are now recommending masking to prevent the spread of RSV and the flu this …

Experts are concerned Thanksgiving gatherings could accelerate a 'tripledemic'
2 years, 1 month ago

Experts are concerned Thanksgiving gatherings could accelerate a 'tripledemic'

NPR  

Experts are concerned Thanksgiving gatherings could accelerate a 'tripledemic' For each of the last two years, Thanksgiving helped usher in some very unwelcome guests: Devastating waves of COVID-19. "Intensive care units are at or above capacity in every children's hospital in the United States right now," says Amy Knight, president of the Children's Hospital Association. "I think it's a really …

‘Viral jambalaya': Early flu adding to woes for US hospitals
2 years, 1 month ago

‘Viral jambalaya': Early flu adding to woes for US hospitals

Associated Press  

As Americans head into the holiday season, a rapidly intensifying flu season is straining hospitals already overburdened with patients sick from other respiratory infections. In Atlanta, Dr. Mark Griffiths describes the mix as a “viral jambalaya.” He said the children’s hospitals in his area have at least 30% more patients than usual for this time of year, with many patients …

California child dies of flu and RSV as cases soar, hospitals threatened
2 years, 1 month ago

California child dies of flu and RSV as cases soar, hospitals threatened

LA Times  

A child receives a flu shot at a free clinic in Los Angeles in October 2020. Underscoring the worrisome conditions, California Department of Public Health officials on Monday reported the season’s first death of a child under 5 due to flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. In a recent communication, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health wrote …

COVID, flu, RSV–Triple threat of respiratory viruses could collide this winter
2 years, 1 month ago

COVID, flu, RSV–Triple threat of respiratory viruses could collide this winter

The Hindu  

As the days get shorter and the weather colder in the northern hemisphere, health officials have warned of a perfect storm of infectious respiratory diseases over the winter months. Outbreaks of seasonal diseases like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are already putting pressure on the overburdened NHS. Influenza Seasonal influenza is a respiratory infection caused by four types of viruses, …

Brace Yourself for a Triple Wave of Seasonal Viruses
2 years, 1 month ago

Brace Yourself for a Triple Wave of Seasonal Viruses

Wired  

Every year it’s the same. Thousands of people get ill, and many die, but the odd extreme year aside, health systems across Europe and North America aren’t typically at risk of being overwhelmed. Nearly one in five PCR tests for RSV came back positive in the week ending October 29, with this rate having doubled over the course of a …

A ‘tripledemic’ of flu, RSV and COVID is feared in California
2 years, 1 month ago

A ‘tripledemic’ of flu, RSV and COVID is feared in California

LA Times  

Licensed vocational nurse Angela Tapia administers a COVID-19 booster to Louis Salazar Jr. as his father, Louis Salazar Sr., waits his turn at their home in Los Angeles. “We are potentially going into what people are calling a ‘tripledemic,’ or a ‘tridemic,’” warned Orange County health officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, who on Monday declared a health emergency amid a surge …

‘Twindemic’ warning as health chiefs launch Covid and flu vaccination drive
2 years, 2 months ago

‘Twindemic’ warning as health chiefs launch Covid and flu vaccination drive

The Telegraph  

Health chiefs have warned of a Covid and flu “twindemic” this winter as they launched a renewed vaccination drive. Around 33 million people in England will be eligible for a free flu vaccination this year, while 26 million are also eligible for an autumn Covid-19 booster. Officials at the UK Health Security Agency warned there will be lower levels of …

A surge in influenza cases in Queensland prompts doctors to issue vaccine warning for children and vulnerable groups
2 years, 7 months ago

A surge in influenza cases in Queensland prompts doctors to issue vaccine warning for children and vulnerable groups

ABC  

Experts have sounded a warning about this year's flu season, with concerns young children will be particularly vulnerable to life-threatening complications. Key points: More than 400 people have been hospitalised with influenza in Queensland this flu season Doctors say children under two are particularly susceptible One expert says flu vaccines should be "essential" in vulnerable settings Queensland flu notifications for …

Hospitals warn patients to stay away as Norovirus and Covid outbreaks hit
2 years, 8 months ago

Hospitals warn patients to stay away as Norovirus and Covid outbreaks hit

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy NHS hospitals across the country have sent warnings over the spread …

Don’t turn away those who come early for Covid booster vaccination, doctors told amid surging cases
2 years, 8 months ago

Don’t turn away those who come early for Covid booster vaccination, doctors told amid surging cases

The Telegraph  

Infections in Scotland have reached another record high, with one in 11, nearly half a million people, estimated to have had Covid-19 last week. “The vaccinations remain our first line of defence which is why we’ve rolled out the booster campaign to all over-75s and care home residents," they added. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine said the use of …

Covid-19 infections above pre-Christmas levels – but falling in England
2 years, 9 months ago

Covid-19 infections above pre-Christmas levels – but falling in England

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It comes as Transport for London dropped a mandatory face mask rule for buses …

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