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The number of people with flu in hospitals across England is more than 50% higher compared with the same time last year, according to official statistics.
The figures, published by NHS England as part of its first weekly snapshot of the performance of hospitals in England this winter, found that an average of 1,717 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week, including 69 whose condition was critical.
This is compared with 1,098 flu patients in NHS hospital beds at the same time last year, representing a 56% increase.
Sarah Woolnough, the chief executive of the King’s Fund, said the figures confirmed that the NHS was “entering the most challenging period of the year with pressures hitting the health and care service from all directions”.
“Rising flu waves and industrial action are all adding strain to a system which is already struggling to deliver timely care for patients,” Woolnough said. “The flu season started unusually early this year and is yet to peak, so it is too soon to know how long this surge will be sustained for.”
The figures also reveal that 30% of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England last week waited at least 30 minutes to be handed over to A&E teams, slightly lower than the 36% seen in the same amount of time last week.
More details soon …
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