Overview
- An average of 3,140 people were in hospital with flu each day in the week to 14 December, up 18% from 2,660 the previous week after an earlier 55% jump.
- The dominant H3N2 subclade K strain differs from this year’s vaccine strain, increasing population susceptibility according to health authorities.
- Regional trends diverged, with the North West down 4% while hospital flu patients rose sharply in the South West (+40%) and East of England (+39%), and increased across London, the Midlands, the North East and Yorkshire, and the South East.
- Operational strain intensified with 128 flu patients in critical care (up from 106), average bed occupancy around 94.2%, and NHS staff absences rising by more than 1,100 week on week.
- Officials report signs of admissions stabilising nationally and urge eligible people to get vaccinated — more than 18 million doses have been given — and to use NHS 111 for non-emergencies as a five-day resident doctors’ strike continues.