NHS Faces Severe Winter Crisis as Flu Cases and A&E Delays Surge

Hospitals across England report record flu admissions, critical incidents, and unprecedented pressure on emergency services.

Flu hospitalizations in England have risen 21% in a week, with over 5,400 daily patients and 256 in critical care, nearly five times the number from early December.
Ambulance delays have hit record levels, with 42% of patients waiting over 30 minutes and 21% waiting over an hour to be handed over to A&E teams.
Over 20 NHS trusts have declared critical incidents, citing overwhelming demand, cold weather, and respiratory viruses as contributing factors.
Patients report lengthy waits in overcrowded emergency departments, with some spending up to two days waiting for admission to hospital wards.
Health officials warn of degrading care conditions and insufficient capacity, as NHS staff liken current pressures to those experienced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.