UK
According to new figures from NHS England the number of people being admitted to hospital with severe cases of norovirus are 179% higher than this time last year.
Health chiefs have warned that the cold weather could increase the number of people going into hospital with a seasonal virus as they have unveiled that more people have been admitted with a winter illness as well as norovirus this year.
Stephen Powis, NHS England’s medical director said: ‘We all know somebody who has had some kind of nasty winter virus in the last few weeks.
‘Today’s data shows this is starting to trickle through to hospital admissions, with a much higher volume of norovirus cases compared to last year, and the continued impact of infections like flue and RSV in children on hospital capacity – all likely to be exacerbated by this week’s cold weather.’
According to NHS data, around 351 adult hospital beds were occupied every day last week by patients with norovirus or norovirus-like symptoms. These include feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, a high temperature and/or a headache. The number of beds occupied last week was almost three times the average of 126 for the equivalent week in 2022.
Expressing major concern, Powis also said: ‘It is clear that, even before we enter December, the demand on hospitals and staff is high, with more than 1,200 extra patients in hospital compared to last year, and we know that is likely to grow considerably before Christmas.’
Research from the NHS was published as part of the first weekly snapshot of how NHS hospitals in England are performing this winter. Overall, one in four patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals last week waiting around 30 minutes to be passed on to A&E teams.
However, on a positive note, around 160 flu patients were in hospital beds in England each day last week, which is below the average 520 from this time last year.
Image: Fusion Medical Animation
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