The number of flu and Covid patients in hospital continues to rise as seasonal viruses further strain trust.
An average of 1,313 patients were in hospital with flu each day during the week ending 31 December, according to the latest figures from NHS England.
This is more than a third more than the week before and five times more than the previous month. Of those hospitalized with the flu last week, 81 were in the intensive care unit—nearly 70 percent more than the week before.
The number of Covid patients in hospital rose 72 per cent in a month, with an average of 3,929 people in hospitals across England contracting the virus every day in the last week of 2023, up from 2,290 in the week ending 30 March. …november.
However, the number of people being treated in hospital for norovirus continues to fall, with 378 people in hospital every day last week – down from 452 the week before.
Ambulance handovers have improved significantly since last winter, which NHS officials attributed to “extensive winter plans and the NHS Accident and Emergency Care Recovery Plan”.
NHS staff have had their busiest week for ambulance services this winter, with more than 93,500 people visiting hospital to transport patients and productivity significantly improving. The latest figures show hours lost due to transport delays were 56 per cent lower than the same period last year, despite last week being the busiest week for ambulances arriving at hospital this winter.
This winter has also been the busiest week for calls to NHS 111, with 444,285 calls answered, almost 34,000 more than the same week last year. Despite high demand, response times have improved significantly, with nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of telephone agents answering within a minute, compared with 26 percent last year, officials said.
There were an average of 11,478 people in hospital every day who could not be discharged despite medical readiness, so-called “bed blockers”, a slight increase on the previous week (11,439), but fewer patients than in the same week last year (12809). ).
Overall adult bed occupancy this winter is 91 percent, the lowest on record. Officials say this is due to a combination of efforts to discharge patients by Christmas, as well as preparation for and management of the strike. In a letter to trusts ahead of the junior doctors’ strike in December, acute care trusts were asked to reduce workloads as much as possible as staff cuts were expected.
NHS winter planning has begun earlier than ever before, including the nationwide rollout of health service ‘traffic control centres’, additional ambulances and beds, more NHS call handlers and the rapid expansion of the world’s leading virtual ward programme. to help patients stay in hospital. external door. Hospitals and treating more people at home and in the community.
The new figures are part of the longest consecutive strike in the history of the NHS. The junior doctors’ strike began on Wednesday 3 January and continued until 7am on Tuesday 9 January.
The strikes are expected to have a significant impact on virtually all routine care provided by consultants as the NHS prioritizes emergency and emergency care. Since the strikes began in December 2022, the total number of delayed emergency and outpatient appointments has been 1,219,422.
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS England National Clinical Director for Accident and Emergency Care, said: “These new figures are testament to the incredibly hard work of NHS staff who remain dedicated to patients, and the significant progress made in our winter plans despite continuing demand. We know that demand always increases after a bank holiday, but this time it was followed by a new round of junior doctors’ strikes, resulting in further increased pressure on services.
“And we know the pressure won’t ease any time soon, with the longest consecutive strike in NHS history still four days away and the flu season not expected to peak for the foreseeable future – not until this week. The number of flu patients in intensive care has increased by 70 per cent and the number of Covid patients in hospital continues to rise, which is a real problem and we are seeing many sicker and more damaged patients seeking treatment.
“While we have made extensive preparations for strike action and emergency care will remain a priority, it is undeniable that the NHS has started the year in a very difficult position – this latest wave of strikes will not only have an impact on health, but will also have an impact on health. This will have a lasting impact over the coming weeks and months as we struggle to restore services and meet high demand. However, as always, I would urge the public to get their flu and Covid vaccinations if required and continue to use 999 or A&E in emergencies and 111 online in all other circumstances.”
The number of staff absentees improved on the previous week, with an average of 47,779 staff absent per day in the final week of the year (up from 49,552 in the week ending 24 December) and one absentee due to Covid in the final week. Fewer employees. absent every day (2378). ) compared to the previous week (2597), as shown in the weekly figures.
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.