NHS figures have revealed a decrease in the number of people with flu at the hospital as England’s top doctor said the health service was not complacent as cold conditions set in.
The number had been rising previously, reaching 3,140 in the week ending 14 December. During the previous winter, weekly flu admissions in England peaked at 5,408 patients.
However, an average of 2,676 flu patients were hospitalised each day in the week ending 28 December, representing a 13% decrease from 3,061 in the previous week.
https://www.nhs.uk/
The NHS national medical director, Prof Meghana Pandit, noted: “It is welcome news to see a drop in the number of people being admitted to hospital with flu, thanks in part to the extraordinary efforts of NHS staff with more than half a million more people vaccinated against flu compared to the same period last year.
Read also the related story on New Daily Prime: NHS faces severe strain as cold alerts hit England
She noted their close monitoring of the impact of falling temperatures saying: “The NHS is far from complacent as temperatures drop, with this likely to increase pressures in the new year, and demand on services remaining high with NHS 111 services recording their second busiest day in two years on Saturday.”
Reacting to the situation, the health secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “In spite of all of the challenges the NHS faces this winter, the herculean efforts of NHS staff and our investment and modernisation mean that hospital bed occupancy is lower than this time last year and ambulance handover performance is improving.”
He acknowledged the health service continued to face significant strain as cold weather intensified.
He said: “But we still face intense pressures, and with this bitingly cold snap adding additional challenges it is more vital than ever those eligible get their flu jab and people only attend A&E in an emergency. Let’s all join NHS staff in doing everything we can to protect ourselves and our families through a difficult winter so NHS services are free for those who really need them.”
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