England is facing record-breaking flu hospitalisations, with health officials warning the NHS is bracing for an "unprecedented wave" of infections this winter.
The latest NHS winter situation report reveals an average of 1,717 flu patients occupied hospital beds each day last week, including 69 in critical care.
That's a staggering 56 per cent jump compared to the same week in 2024, when just 1,098 patients were being treated.
To put the numbers in perspective, this time in 2023 saw just 243 patients in hospital with flu, while 2022 had 772, marking a dramatic surge that's caught many off guard.
The NHS is bracing for an 'unprecedented wave' of flu infections this winter
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NHS national medical director for urgent and emergency care, Professor Julian Redhead, said flu cases are now "incredibly high" and that the latest figures "confirm our deepest concerns: the health service is bracing for an unprecedented flu wave this winter".
The flu season kicked off earlier than usual this year, with experts warning it hasn't even peaked yet. And with the current trajectory, hospitals could face even greater strain in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.
Last winter, patient numbers hit their highest point in early January, reaching 5,408 – the biggest weekly figure since the pandemic began.
Acute director at NHS Confederation, Rory Deighton, said: "It is clear that the flu season has hit much earlier and much harder than in previous years, piling pressure onto NHS services which have already had one of their busiest summers ever."
Professor Redhead is urging anyone eligible to get their flu jab as soon as possible.
He added: "With just a couple of weeks left to ensure maximum immunity from flu for Christmas Day, I urge anyone eligible to come forward to get their jab."
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Who can get vaccinated?
The jab is available for everyone aged 65 and over, those under 65 with certain health conditions, care home residents and their carers, pregnant women, close contacts of immunosuppressed individuals, frontline health and social care workers, and children.
Getting jabbed is pretty straightforward too – appointments and walk-in sessions are running at local pharmacies, GP surgeries and community clinic drop-in centres right across the country.
It comes as the NHS is also facing a five-day strike by resident doctors starting at 7am on December 17 and running until 7am on December 22.
The walkout comes as doctors continue their dispute with the Government over training and pay, following similar action in November.
NHS is facing a five-day strike by resident doctors
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NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey didn't mince words, calling the decision to strike "something that feels cruel" and "calculated to cause mayhem at a time when the service is really pulling all the stops out to try and avoid that and keep people safe".
He said the planned action had sparked "a genuine and palpable feeling of anger, frustration and exasperation" among colleagues, adding: "I really do hope we can find a way of avoiding this."
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