Nine hospitals across England have declared critical incidents due to a surge in flu cases over the Christmas period, resulting in some patients facing waits of up to 50 hours to be seen in A&E. The NHS is battling a wave of winter illnesses, including norovirus, RSV, and hMPV, along with a newly emerged cold virus first detected in China.
Nine hospitals have declared critical incidents after flu cases 'skyrocketed' over the Christmas period, leaving some patients facing 50 hour waits to be seen. More than 5,000 patients have been hospitalised with the infection over the Christmas and New Year period, according to NHS data. Last week, there were an average of 4,469 patients with flu in hospital each day – almost 3.5 times higher than the same week last year – including 211 in critical care.
The news comes amid a surge in other winter infections including norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hMPV, and a little-known cold virus that's swept China, causing health services to falter — and is now hitting the UK and America. University Hospitals Birmingham is the latest NHS Trust to declare a critical incident across all its hospitals: Heartlands in Bordesley Green, the Queen Elizabeth in Edgbaston, Good Hope in Sutton Coldfield and Solihull. A spokesperson said an 'exceptional number' of flu patients admitted in the first week of January — a total 311 inpatients — was the reason for the move. Measures including mask-wearing have been introduced across its departments, it added. Earlier, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust sounded the alarm because of a 'significant and rising demand for hospital care.' Patients at Liverpool Royal Hospital, pictured, have been told to visit their GPs or to call 111 amid high numbers of people going to its A&E department, unless in an emergency. The Trust said more than 300 people attended A&E at Derriford Hospital yesterday and nearly 200 of those needed admitting for hospital care. 'We are particularly seeing high numbers of older patients with respiratory problems exacerbated by the cold weather,' a statement said. It comes after Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident this morning and called on members of the public to help manage the ongoing crisi
Flu Hospitals Critical Incidents Winter Illnesses NHS
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