Respiratory illness bounce-back as NHS tackles January cold snap

Figures show a ‘bounce back’ of respiratory illness and winter viruses after Christmas and New Year gatherings just as the NHS is also tackling the impact of a cold weather snap, officials have warned.

It comes as the health service prepares to send thousands of reminders for parents and carers of children with at-risk health conditions to book a GP appointment for a flu vaccine.

The number of patients in hospital beds with flu has risen by 9% on the previous week (2,924), following two weeks of falling rates, figures suggest. 

Weekly sitrep data also shows GP consultation rates for flu have increased once more from 11.2 per 100,000 patients to 14.6%.

The positivity rate of GP swabs for flu has also increased from 17.4% to 18.3% surveillance data shows.

Levels of respiratory illnesses among older adults in particular ‘remain raised and of concern’, officials said, asking the over-85s to take extra precautions to reduce spread.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) experts have extended an amber cold alert that is in place until Monday 12 January as Storm Goretti approaches with a high likelihood of snow.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, urged people to check in on relatives and neighbours who are older or who have serious health conditions because the ongoing cold snap could have a ‘severe impact’.

This season the flu season got off to an ‘unusually early start’, NHS England noted in October.

But analysis has shown the flu vaccine remains 70-75% effective at preventing hospital attendance in children aged 2 to 17 years and 30-40% effective in adults.

The latest NHS data shows hospital bed occupancy for norovirus and Covid has also increased with 92% of beds now full – up from 5% the week before.

More than half a million additional people have been vaccinated against flu this winter compared to the same point last year.  

NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit said: ‘It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter, with hospitals again experiencing a rise in patients admitted with flu and other respiratory virus cases last week.

‘The cold weather also means we are also seeing more vulnerable patients with respiratory problems in A&E and more injuries from slips and falls due to the icy conditions, so it remains an extremely busy time.’

She added it was important that people come forward for care as usual and said ‘there are still plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated and get protected against flu’.

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said the latest data showed the NHS was not ‘out of the woods’ yet.

‘While the NHS is better prepared and performing more strongly than this time last year thanks to the tireless work of staff, the current cold snap is putting fresh pressure on frontline services.

‘Flu can be serious, particularly for older people, young children and those with underlying conditions, and vaccination remains the best protection. I urge everyone who is eligible to get their flu jab as soon as possible.’