Health experts believe the triple whammy of rising Covid and flu cases, combined with the continued impact of this month’s NHS strikes, will see more patients spend Christmas in the hospital.
About 1.4 million people in the UK are likely to test positive for coronavirus in the week ending December 9 – more than 1.1 million at the end of November but less than the two million weekly infections in early October.
Estimates released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) give an idea of what happened in the UK in early December as the coronavirus continued to spread through the population. Scientists believe the current number will be much higher and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has advised people to stay at home if they are not feeling well.
More recent data shows that the number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 is rising rapidly in England, Scotland and Wales. Their number in England rose by 29% last week to the highest level in almost two months.
The ZOE Health Study app also suggested that the number of Covid cases is rising rapidly, with a 20 percent increase in just one week. The daily number of cases of symptomatic infection rose to 262,675 on Tuesday, Dec. 20 from 195,430 on Wednesday, Dec. 14, the app said. The ZOE numbers are more up-to-date than the ONS data because users enter their information directly into the app on a daily basis.
Sarah Crofts, ONS Associate Director of Infection Research Analysis, said: “Data today show that the number of Covid-19 infections in England has been rising for the fourth consecutive week, with cases also continuing to rise in Scotland. The increase has occurred in more than half of England’s regions, with a mixed picture for different age groups.
“Infections have increased in the majority of adults under the age of 70, while there has been a decrease in infections among school-age children. We will continue to monitor the data closely in the coming weeks.”
The UK is experiencing a third consecutive winter as Covid-19 picks up pace. But unlike 2020 and 2021, when the coronavirus was the leading cause of illness and hospitalizations, this winter has also seen a spike in flu cases, and NHS staff are already struggling to make up for a record backlog of treatment orders.
Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programs at the UKHSA, confirmed that hospitalizations “have risen for both influenza and Covid-19 as people continue to be indoors this winter.” She said it is “important to avoid contact with other people when you are unwell to prevent the spread of infections during the Christmas and New Year period.”
ONS data shows coronavirus concentrations in early December were likely the highest in Scotland, where an estimated one in 40 people contracted the virus in early December, or 130,900 people, compared to one in 60 at the end of November. . In England, one in 45 million to 1.2 million people were likely infected with Covid-19 earlier this month, compared to one in 60 at the end of last month.
In Wales and Northern Ireland, the ONS described the short-term trend as “not safe”, with an estimated one in 55 (57,600 people) in Wales and one in 50 (37,000 people) in Northern Ireland by early December. . . The percentage of people who test positive in Wales rose in the two weeks to December 8, according to the ONS.
NHS trust officials have warned that Christmas could be one of the darkest for health care as strikes could exacerbate “an already very difficult situation”.
Data from last week shows that one in four ER patients in England waited more than an hour to be transferred to the hospital’s emergency team. The new data also suggests that the number of flu patients hospitalized in England has “surged” and that Streptococcus A is driving demand for NHS 111 services “almost at a record high”.
Saffron Corderi, Acting Director of NHS Providers, said: “The disruption to patient care caused by strikes over the past two weeks has resulted in thousands of appointments being rescheduled or cancelled. This will affect health and care services in the coming days and will only be exacerbated by further strikes in the new year.
“While many will welcome the suspension of the strike next week, it means the shutdown is being pushed into the new year, which is an extremely difficult time for trust leaders even under normal circumstances.”
Ms Cordery said the welfare system is also on its knees, which is affecting the NHS as hospitals find it harder to release patients back into the community.
The Department of Health and Welfare said it was “vital” that everyone in high-risk groups receive their winter vaccinations amid rising Covid and flu cases. A spokesman said: “Please contact us during the Christmas holidays if you are eligible and have not yet been vaccinated.”
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.