Overview
- UKHSA issued amber and yellow cold-health alerts for England as temperatures drop below freezing, raising risks for hospitals.
- New NHS data show average daily flu hospitalisations fell to 2,676 in the week ending 28 December from 3,061 the week before, with higher vaccination uptake credited in part.
- NHS 111 handled 414,562 calls during Christmas week, including 87,318 answered on Saturday 27 December, the service’s second-busiest day in two years.
- Ambulance handover times improved week on week by about two-and-a-half minutes and are more than 14 minutes quicker than the same period last year.
- Officials urge eligible people to get winter vaccines, use NHS 111 or 111 online for non-emergencies, keep homes at least 18°C, and check on vulnerable people.