The first major signs of the NHS being hit by winter emerged today with a rise in flu cases and norovirus.
Accident and emergency departments across the country were so busy that they had to divert ambulances to other hospitals on 38 occasions last week, NHS England statistics reveal.
At the same time, an average of 617 beds a day were closed because of norovirus and other winter bugs, up from 398 a day in the first week of the year.
“Influenza-like illness” rates rose to 14.8 cases per 100,000 people, almost double the figure at the end of last year, and of those 205 flu patients had to be admitted to intensive care.
Additionally, 12,326 patients had to wait at least 30 minutes to be accepted by A&E staff — with one in eight brought to hospital by ambulance.
Most of today’s figures, for the week to January 13, showed a slight improvement on the same period last year but higher rates than reported earlier this winter.
Bed occupancy rose to 94.7 per cent — 92 per cent is regarded as the maximum “safe” level.
Barts Health, which runs the Royal London, Whipps Cross and Newham, was one of the worst in London for delayed ambulance handovers. It also had to close up to 48 beds a day because of winter virus contamination.
St George’s faced up to 73 bed closures, and 28 at King’s College hospitals.
An NHS spokesman said flu and norovirus cases were rising as expected but fewer people were requiring long hospital stays this year due to “closer working between hospitals, local health groups and councils”.
He added that as temperatures drop, people should make use of free flu jabs, if they are eligible, and call the NHS 111 service in non-emergencies to help doctors, nurses and paramedics care for the seriously ill.
