Experts urge public health measures as hospital admissions increase alongside flu cases, with winter pressures mounting.
Covid-19 hospital admissions in England have risen by 22 per cent in just one week, heightening concerns among health professionals. On 14 December, 6,720 people were in hospital due to the virus, up from 5,501 on 7 December, according to NHS England data. Alongside this increase, the number of Covid patients requiring mechanical ventilation rose from 129 to 150.
The surge in hospitalisations varies by region, with the south-west seeing a 56 per cent increase in Covid-related admissions. Dr Daniel Goyal, an NHS Covid doctor, described the rise in hospitalisations as “very concerning,” emphasising the added strain on an already overstretched healthcare system. He highlighted the alarming issue of patients contracting Covid while in hospital, which delays their discharge and further burdens the NHS.
Dr Goyal has called for stronger public health messaging, particularly in the lead-up to Christmas, urging people to wear high-quality face masks in crowded or communal spaces. He also recommended wearing masks at holiday gatherings, especially if vulnerable family members are present.
In addition to rising Covid admissions, the UK is facing an uptick in flu cases, with hospital admissions for flu surpassing those for Covid for the first time since the pandemic began. Flu admissions stood at 6.8 per 100,000 people in the week leading up to 11 December, slightly higher than the 6.6 per 100,000 for Covid-19. However, flu admissions are increasing at a much faster rate, nearly doubling week-on-week, while Covid-19 hospitalisations are rising more gradually.
The increase in flu cases has made it more prevalent than at any point during the last four winters, according to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data. Hospital admissions for flu are highest among the elderly, particularly those aged 85 and over, as well as young children, with the flu rate in children aged four and under showing a significant jump.
Professor Majeed Azeem, head of public health at Imperial College, warned that the UK faces a “double threat” of both Covid-19 and flu. He recommended that the public get vaccinated against both viruses and consider testing before visiting elderly relatives during Christmas.
As the health system grapples with these challenges, strike action by nurses across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland has added to the pressure. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is protesting over pay following unsuccessful government negotiations, with the first nationwide strike of nurses in the UK’s history set to take place.
Recent data from NHS England also shows a 17 per cent rise in the number of people primarily being treated for Covid in acute trusts between 6 and 13 December. This is consistent with Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, which suggests an increase in Covid infection rates, with 1 in 60 people estimated to have the virus in the week ending 26 November, up from 1 in 62 the previous week.
