NHS FLU CRISIS: Now nine hospitals declare critical incidents as infections surge to ‘exceptionally high’ levels – with patients facing 50 HOUR waits

Nine hospitals have declared critical incidents after flu cases ‘skyrocketed’ over the Christmas period, leaving some patients facing 50 hour waits to be seen.

More than 5,000 patients have been hospitalised with the infection over the Christmas and New Year period, according to NHS data.

Last week, 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 in critical care.

The news comes amid a surge in other winter infections including norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hMPV, an little-known cold virus that’s swept China, causing health services to falter — and is now hitting the UK and America.

University Hospitals Birmingham is the latest NHS Trust to declare a critical incident across all its hospitals: Heartlands in Bordesley Green, the Queen Elizabeth in Edgbaston, Good Hope in Sutton Coldfield and Solihull.

A spokesperson said an ‘exceptional number’ of flu patients admitted in the first week of January — a total 311 inpatients — was the reason for the move.

Measures including mask-wearing have been introduced across its departments, it added.

Earlier, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust sounded the alarm because of a ‘significant and rising demand for hospital care.’

he Trust said more than 300 people attended A&E at Derriford Hospital yesterday and nearly 200 of those needed admitting for hospital care.

‘We are particularly seeing high numbers of older patients with respiratory problems exacerbated by the cold weather,’ a statement said.

It comes after Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident this morning and called on members of the public to help manage the ongoing crisis.

The Trust said this was because of ‘sustained pressures’ at its Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals, including a high admission rate, a high number of infectious patients requiring isolation, and a low discharge rate.

Meanwhile, The Royal Liverpool University Hospital has said staff were working incredibly hard to treat patients suffering from ‘flu and respiratory illnesses’.

Covid-19, RSV and norovirus surged in December, as health chiefs warned this winter could be one of the worst on record.

And there are warnings of continued pressure as we continue into 2025, with amber cold alerts for England issued as temperatures are set to drop below freezing.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has urged people to only go to A&E in a genuine medical emergency, instead asking them to visit their GP or call 111.

A spokesperson said the hospital was ‘extremely busy’ as it dealt with a soaring number of patients suffering from flu and other respiratory conditions.

Yesterday, the hospital said its A&E department was at ‘full capacity’, with patients reporting huge wait times.

A spokesperson said: ‘Given the exceptionally high demands on our Emergency Department, especially with flu and respiratory illnesses, and the number of patients we have taken this action to support the safe care and treatment of our patients, which is our absolute priority.’

Patients are being urged to use other services, such as their GP, a local pharmacy, or walk-in centre.

‘The NHS 111 service can be used to help identify the most appropriate service for you and help avoid long waits,’ they added.

‘If you are attending our EDs, patients and visitors should follow some additional infection control measures to help curb the spread of winter viruses such as flu and norovirus.

‘This includes practicing good hand hygiene, only visiting the areas they need to in our hospitals and wearing masks in clinical areas if asked to do so.’

Earlier today top British virus experts called on Chinese authorities to disclose vital information about a worrying outbreak of hMPV, a cold-like virus which is reported to be overwhelming its hospitals.

The UK authorities ‘need more information on the specific strain circulating’ in order to accurately assess the threat to the British public, warned virus expert Dr Andrew Catchpole.

Cases of the infection — which causes cold-like symptoms — are on the rise across the UK, with graphs showing doubling in numbers over the last month.

Worryingly, this is primarily being driven by cases in young children — who are among the most vulnerable to serious complications — official data suggests.