Hospitals and GPs are being hit by one of the worst flu outbreaks in recent years.
After 35 deaths last week, 120 people across the UK have died of flu-related symptoms since early October, compared with 45 in the same period in 2016-17. Figures from the Royal College of GPs showed that more than 30,000 people visited a GP last week as a result of influenza-like illness.
The NHS is already creaking at the seams as it faces winter pressures. Dr Richard Fawcett, a consultant in emergency medicine at the Royal Stoke hospital, tweeted earlier this month that the higher than usual prevalence of flu, especially cases of the influenza A strain, which caused havoc in Australia and New Zealand, was “very concerning [because] it’s respiratory illness that tips the NHS over the edge in the winter”.
We want to hear from hospital doctors and GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, porters and other NHS staff. We are also keen to hear from patients. What have been your experiences of flu in the NHS? How is the flu affecting your work? Are you worried about the safety of patients? Are healthcare professionals themselves coming down with flu? How is this affecting services? Are people getting their flu vaccination?
We will use these submissions as part of our reporting. You can remain anonymous if you wish.
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