Flu cases are at “high levels”, health bosses warned – and there were more than 350 people in North East hospitals with the illness over the Christmas and New Year period.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that in the last week of 2024: “Influenza [flu] activity increased across most indicators and was circulating at high levels.” There was also a week-on-week jump in hospital admissions due to the illness – up from 10.69 per 100,000 people to 14.09.
Figures for four of the North East’s five acute hospital trusts show that there were upwards of 350 people in hospital with flu on December 29. On Christmas Day – when traditionally hospital bosses aim to allow anyone who can be safely discharged to be so – there were still a total of 313 people occupying NHS beds due to the flu.
That’s according to data for the Newcastle Hospitals, South Tyneside and Sunderland, Northumbria and County Durham and Darlington NHS Trusts. On December 29, Northumbria – which runs hospitals across North Tyneside and Northumberland – had 123 patients in general and acute (G&A) wards, and two needing critical care.
Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter
Meanwhile at South Tyneside and Sunderland Royal hospitals, there were 109 G&A patients and 4 critical care. At Newcastle’s RVI and Freeman hospitals, the figures are 53 and 2 respectively. Across County Durham and Darlington, there were 66 in G&A beds and 2 in critical care.
This is the most flu patients the region has seen this winter, barring on December 16 – where there were eight more recorded. It is almost six times higher than the 67 seen on November 25.
This comes as national medical experts urge the public to take up flu vaccinations – which are “the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation”.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “For many of us, the festive period is marked with parties and socialising with friends and family, meaning it’s not unusual to see an increase in flu at this time of year and this was anticipated.
“This is why we have been urging those eligible to take up a free flu vaccine. The good news if you did, is that you are less likely to be severely affected by flu. If you’re still offered a vaccine through local services, you should take it up as we could see high levels for some weeks still. This is particularly important if you’re a health and social care worker, as we know these services are under significant winter pressures right now.
“If you have symptoms of flu or COVID-19 such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable. If you have symptoms and need to leave the house, our advice remains that you should wear a face covering. Washing hands regularly and using and disposing tissues in bins can reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.”
Despite the rises in flu, levels of the other respiratory illness that have driven anxiety this winter – Covid-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) – have fallen in the last week, the UKHSA said.
Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone.
To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press ‘join community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN