Norfolk epidemiologist says strong vaccination rate & community care, key to tackling flu
NHS England says that the first full week of January was the busiest to date in the organisations history
An epidemiologist in Norfolk says ensuring more vulnerable people are vaccinated and expanding the role of community care, will help stem 'winter pressures' on hospitals, moving forwards.
NHS England says that the first full week of January was the busiest to date in the organisations history.
During this period, 96% hospital beds being occupied due to 'sky-high' rates of flu and other winter virus'.
Infection rates have been 3 and a half times higher this year, compared to the same period in 2024. With nearly five thousand in hospital with it, every day in the first week of January.
However- the number of people in hospital with the illness has fallen for the second week in a row, according to NHS figures. With an average of 3,833 patients in beds, each day last week.
It's a fall of 22% on the previous week- with 176 people still requiring critical care.
"I think that's helping to drive the number of cases that we're seeing"
Professor Paul Hunter works at Norwich Medical School:
He told us one of the reasons why so many have been hospitalised, this month:
"Last year- we had far fewer cases than we've seen so far this year. But the number of cases we've seen this year is roughly what we saw in the year before that.
"The sub-type of flu that's circulating predominately was around a few years ago, but it wasn't that common and therefore I think the levels of immunity to this in the population were low.
"I think that's helping to drive the number of cases that we're seeing".
What's the Government said on this?
Health Secretary, Wes Streeting says that since July, the Government has done everything it can to prepare the NHS for winter.
His latest address to the House of Commons on this issue can be found here, in full.