Hospital flu cases drop as NHS on cold weather alert

What’s Happening

Not gonna lie, NHS bosses say the fall is welcome, but expect freezing temperatures to increase pressure on the health service.

Hospital flu cases drop as NHS on cold weather alert 3 days ago Save Nick Triggle Health correspondent Save The number of patients in hospital with flu has fallen in England, but NHS bosses are warning the cold snap could increase the pressure on the health service in the coming days. The start of January is normally the busiest time of year for the health service, so NHS England dropped the fall in flu cases was welcome. (yes, really)

Last week there were 2,676 people in hospital with the virus – down from just over 3,000 the week before.

The Details

But the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued cold health alerts across England because of the freezing weather, meaning there is likely to be significant impact on the health service in the coming days. The cold health amber alerts are in effect from 20:00 GMT on Friday until 10:00 on 9 January.

UKHSA warn impacts could include a likely increase in demand for health services, challenges keeping temperatures in hospitals and staffing issues because of external factors like travel delays. NHS England medical director Prof Meghana Pandit dropped: “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.

Why This Matters

” But she added: “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. “Its vital that the public please continue to only use 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 and 111 online for other conditions. ” The drop in flu cases was expected as figures before Christmas showed the amount of flu circulating in the community had kicked off to fall .

This is the kind of health news that affects everyday decisions.

The Bottom Line

” The drop in flu cases was expected as figures before Christmas showed the amount of flu circulating in the community had kicked off to fall . Similar trends are being seen in the rest of the UK.

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