Hospital admissions for flu and other winter viruses in England have risen again following the Christmas period, prompting warnings from NHS leaders that pressure on frontline services remains intense.
NHS England data shows an average of 2,924 patients were in hospital beds with flu last week, up 9% on the previous week, after two weeks of decline that had raised hopes the winter surge had peaked.
Cold Weather and Viruses Stretch Services
Health leaders said a combination of festive social mixing, freezing temperatures and circulating respiratory viruses is driving the renewed increase in hospital demand.
NHS England said hospitals are “extremely busy”, with icy conditions leading to more slips and falls, while cold air has worsened symptoms for people with respiratory illnesses.
Corridor Care Concerns Grow
The rise in admissions has intensified concerns over corridor care, where patients are treated in temporary or unsuitable spaces due to bed shortages.
The Health Services Safety Investigations Body has warned that corridor care is becoming normalised across the NHS, with patients being treated in corridors, waiting rooms and even ambulances outside hospitals because wards are full.
NHS Leaders Warn Worst Not Over
Meghana Pandit, NHS England’s national medical director, said the latest figures showed winter pressures were far from easing.
She warned that despite earlier signs of improvement, the NHS continues to face significant strain as flu, Covid and norovirus cases rise together.
Signs of Improved Resilience
Despite the renewed pressure, NHS leaders said there were signs services are coping better than in recent winters.
Ambulance handover delays during the Christmas period were lower than last year, suggesting some operational improvements have taken effect following changes introduced ahead of winter.
Government Response
Wes Streeting said the latest data showed the NHS was “not out of the woods yet”, despite stronger preparation compared with last winter.
He said the cold snap was putting fresh pressure on frontline staff and described the ongoing use of corridor care as “bloody horrible”, adding that he had repeatedly spoken out against the practice.
Risks for Lung Patients Highlighted
Health charities have urged vulnerable people to take extra precautions as flu and freezing temperatures combine to increase health risks.
Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Asthma and Lung UK, said people with lung conditions face a “deadly duo” of cold air and flu, which can worsen breathlessness and wheezing. She advised breathing through the nose outdoors and loosely covering the mouth and nose with a scarf to warm inhaled air.
Flu Below Last Year’s Peak but Rising
While flu admissions have risen, levels remain below last winter’s peak, when hospital flu cases exceeded 5,000 at their highest point.
However, NHS England confirmed that hospitalisations linked to Covid and norovirus have also increased, adding to the cumulative pressure on wards.
Emergency Care Crisis Warning
Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said emergency care pressures were deepening and warned that patients were dying as a direct consequence of overcrowded hospitals and delayed treatment.
Health policy experts have echoed concerns, warning that current pressure levels are not sustainable and prevent the NHS from delivering the best possible outcomes for patients.
Wider Winter Context
The latest warning comes as the NHS continues to grapple with longstanding issues including staff shortages, delayed discharges, and limited social care capacity, all of which reduce hospital flow during winter months.
Health leaders have repeatedly stressed that without sustained investment in community care and bed capacity, winter surges will continue to overwhelm emergency departments.
