NHS England on ‘high alert’ as flu admissions surge amid staff strikes

Average of 3,140 people in hospital with flu each day last week, an all-time high for this time of year

The NHS is on high alert" as the number of people in hospital with flu reached the highest ever for this time of year amid continuing strikes.

An average of 3,140 people were in hospital with flu each day by the end of last week, an increase of 18% compared with the previous week. At the same time last year, an average of 2,629 patients were in hospital, while in 2023 the number was 648.