It was reported in the Guardian today that the NHS is facing what was described a “quad-demic” of health emergencies as it heads into winter. Four different illnesses; flu, Covid, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are putting pressure on hospitals, which are reported as being “busier than ever” for this time of year, according to the health service’s most senior doctor.
There are now more than four times as many people in hospital with flu in England, compared with last year. Meanwhile cases of Covid, norovirus and RSV are also said to be on the rise. This year’s first two NHS winter situation reports, show that an average of 1,099 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week, including 39 in critical care. In 2023, the total was 243 with nine in critical care, while in 2022, there was an average of 772 flu patients.
Protection with Covid and flu jabs
The national medical director of the NHS, Professor Stephen Powis, said that “he feared the number of admissions would increase further unless the public took action to protect themselves with flu, Covid and RSV jabs. RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds and can lead to bronchiolitis or pneumonia particularly in young children and the elderly.”
Powis also said that there are concerns about unprecedented pressure on health service, with the long winter to come.
Powis said that. “for a while there have been warnings of a ‘tripledemic’ of Covid, flu and RSV this winter. But with rising cases of norovirus this could fast become a ‘quad-demic’ so it’s important that if you haven’t had your Covid or flu jab to follow the lead of millions of others and come forward and get protected as soon as possible.”
“The NHS is busier than it has ever been before heading into winter, with flu and norovirus numbers in hospital rising sharply – and we are still only at the start of December, so we expect pressure to increase and there is a long winter ahead of us.
“Ambulances are also facing huge demand, with thousands of extra patients and other pressures having an impact on handover delays, which is why our robust plans, including services like urgent treatment centres and same day emergency care are so important this winter.”
