Hospitals across the UK are preparing for a “tidal wave of flu” with some officials warning the NHS could be facing “carnage” in the coming weeks
Hospitals right across the UK are preparing for what some officials are describing as a “tidal wave of flu,” amid concerns that a combination of post-Christmas pressures and continuing strikes could trigger mayhem on the wards.
The warning follows NHS figures revealing a sharp rise in the number of people being admitted to hospital with the illness. The latest data shows an average of 2,660 patients were hospitalised with flu each day last week, marking a new record for flu admissions at this point in the year.
This represents a 55% jump on the previous week. Ambulance call-outs also increased to 48,814 compared to last year (802,525 versus 753,711).
According to the Health Service Journal, one hospital chief warned: “The flu predictions look worrying…” adding: “If they come through as predicted the second week of January could be carnage – a perfect storm of flu, post Christmas surge and the lag impact of [strikes].”
However, some public health experts are questioning whether the recent “super flu” alarm is warranted. On social media platform Bluesky, critics have challenged what they describe as exaggerated assertions of an “unprecedented wave of super flu leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario,” reports the Mirror.
According to Dave West, deputy editor at the Health Service Journal, multiple hospital chiefs have indicated that whilst flu has emerged earlier than typical this year, the strain on hospitals hasn’t yet reached exceptional levels.
“The national comparisons with early December in previous years is misleading given flu usually comes later than this,” he quoted one source as saying.
A graph circulated on Bluesky also questions the magnitude of the outbreak. Its creator, Stuart McDonald, an expert in public health and demographics, stated: “I might be wrong but my current view is that it’s overblown. Flu arrived early, which is why it’s breaking ‘time of year’ records, but it’s only in the medium threshold and could peak lower than last year, let alone 2022-23.”
Specialists suggest NHS England’s worries – the convergence of flu, post-holiday admissions, and strike-related disruption – appear to be more about timing rather than the seriousness of flu cases. This means early cases aligning with post-Christmas admissions and strike-related staffing gaps could generate a difficult period for hospitals.