The NHS data shows that in the week ending 29 December there were an average of 4,469 patients with flu in hospital each day – almost 3.5 times higher than the same week last year – including 211 a day in critical care.
There were 4,102 patients in hospital with flu on Christmas Day, rising by almost a quarter to 5,074 by Sunday 29 December. The new figures mean flu cases in hospital have quadrupled in a month.
Hospitals are still experiencing pressure from a range of viruses, with an average of 723 patients with norovirus in hospital in the week ending 22 December and 528 patients each day last week. Although this has come down, it remains 40% higher than 378 the same week last year.
There was also an average of 74 children with RSV in hospital every day last week, up almost half on 50 for the same period in 2023, as well as an average of 1,184 beds occupied by patients with Covid.
To prepare for an expected rise in winter pressure, the NHS had 1,301 more beds open last week than the same period last year - 101,309 compared to 100,008. There was an average of 648 more beds occupied each day compared to last year - 90,200 compared to 89,552.
Ahead of Christmas, NHS staff discharged 15,094 patients on Christmas Eve, up more than 40% on the 10,495 discharges on average for the week before.
Further figures show the pressure on urgent and emergency services with a total of 98,118 ambulance handovers to hospitals last week and 465,442 calls received by NHS 111.
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: ‘On top of flu there is also continual pressure from Covid, while RSV and norovirus hospital cases are also higher than last year, with hospitals putting in place an extra 1,300 beds last week than the same time last year in expectation of this continued pressure from viruses and other demand.
"With what looks like an extreme cold snap expected right across England ahead of the weekend, we know the low temperatures can be dangerous for those who are vulnerable or have respiratory conditions so if you are at risk, do try and keep warm and make sure you are stocked up on any regular medication.'
Health secretary, Wes Streeting, added: ‘This government has ended the strikes so staff are on the frontline this winter rather than the picket line, introduced the new RSV vaccine, and put immediate extra investment into the NHS.
‘But we have been honest from day one that the status quo isn't good enough. We are investing in and reforming our NHS, and grasping the nettle of social care reform, to finally break out of the cycle of annual winter crises, because there is no solution to the crisis in the NHS that doesn't involve a solution to the social care crisis.'
