NHS workers have launched an unprecedented series of strikes this month, with nurses and ambulance drivers leaving the staff.
The strikes, sparked by a bitter wage dispute, have prompted some trusts to report critical incidents, and health officials have warned that the consequences for the NHS are likely to be “incredibly difficult”.
In addition to the impact of the strikes, the health services are battling a range of diseases that are afflicting Britain – here’s all you need to know.
What diseases affect the UK?
Ahead of the strikes, Health Secretary Steve Barclay warned of influenza, Covid and Strep A strains in the system after accusing unions of making a “conscious choice” to put patients at risk.
He warned that in the week leading up to December 21, flu hospitalizations increased by 73% and Covid by 27%.
Mr Barclay added that concern over cases of Streptococcus A has also led to a five-fold increase in the amount of antibiotics prescribed, BBC Radio 4 reports. today Program: “So the system is already under significant pressure.”
Professor Julian Redhead, National Clinical Director for Acute and Emergency Care at NHS England, told MPs that “demand and capacity” was the biggest challenge facing the health care system ahead of the strikes.
He told MPs on the Commons Health and Welfare Committee: “We are seeing an increase in flu cases, we are seeing an increase in Covid consumption and cold snaps – we know that cold weather is also associated with poor health and we have also seen an increase.
“Our occupancy rate is now higher than at any time of the year. So we have an occupancy rate of about 98 percent across all of our funds.”
Covid infections rose 43 percent in just two weeks to 219,131 cases per day on Wednesday, Dec. 14, according to Zoe Health research.
Around 250,000 new symptomatic cases are expected to be detected daily over Christmas, peaking at around 300,000 in January, before declining, according to Tim Spector, the professor who runs the Zoe app.
This is only slightly below the July record of 351,546 cases, and significantly higher than for most of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, according to official data, Scotland is currently experiencing the highest level of flu cases in the last five years. Public Health Scotland’s (PHS) Weekly Report on Respiratory Viruses showed that there were 24.9 influenza cases per 100,000 population in the week ending Sunday 18 December.
He warned that the number was high enough to be considered “extraordinary”, with the highest infection rate since the end of 2017.
Officials in Scotland are advising people to stock up on paracetamol, ibuprofen and suitable baby alternatives to keep them off the streets during the Christmas period.
They also recommend that people with comorbidities make sure they have enough prescription drugs so they don’t run out, making them more vulnerable.
Nesta Lloyd-Jones, Deputy Director of the NHS Confederation of Wales, described the current demand for the healthcare system as ‘relentlessly high’ as experts warned the UK is facing a ‘triple epidemic’ with higher rates of Covid, Streptococcus A and frequent winter illnesses such as like the flu.
And in Northern Ireland, the chief medical officer has urged people to stay home if they have flu-like symptoms and to wear masks again on public transport.
Breda Smith’s advice was to not go to the Christmas party or see family on Christmas Eve if they developed new Covid-like symptoms.
The professor said the number of Covid cases in Northern Ireland hospitals rose by 50 per cent in a week, adding that she was “very concerned” about the recent surge in Covid cases ahead of more communication over the Christmas period.
Why is everyone sick?
Experts said recent cold weather conditions, which forced people to move indoors together, contributed in part to the surge in infections.
This was accompanied by a decrease in immunity, especially against colds and flu, after almost three years of reduced social contact due to the Covid pandemic.
The scientists warned that increased contact with other people, caused by Christmas shopping and meetings at the World Cup, also plays a role.
During the pandemic, the flu fell much faster than the common cold, as the flu is much less contagious, meaning Covid restrictions have had a much bigger impact on the numbers.
As a result, the loss of immunity to influenza in the population due to a significant reduction in infections is largely responsible for the current increase.
Experts say that combined levels of colds and flu are not particularly high compared to pre-pandemic times, but have actually rebounded in recent years.
However, the number of cases of influenza is significantly higher than the average compared to the pre-pandemic period, and the flu is much more serious than the common cold.
“The flu is certainly worse than a typical pre-pandemic year, but not yet as bad as two bad seasons in the last decade or so,” says Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia.
Steve Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds, added: “Influenza has effectively stopped in 2020 and has been very low, mainly due to Covid measures such as face masks and reduced social contact. The flu has a lower R-value than Covid and the common cold,” meaning it is less contagious.
Katherine Moore, a consultant clinician for Public Health Wales, said flu problems have worsened because it crosses more than usual with other common respiratory viruses, such as RSV or respiratory syncytial virus infection.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.