Overview
- An average of 1,717 patients were in hospital beds with flu each day last week in England, up 56% on the same week last year, including 69 in critical care.
- UKHSA reports show test positivity rising to 17.1% and flu admissions increasing to 7.79 per 100,000 in the latest week, with no peak yet identified.
- Regional systems are activating surge measures as pressure intensifies, including Greater Manchester opening escalation beds and London recording triple last year’s flu hospitalisations.
- Public health guidance stresses vaccination and source control, with some trusts reinstating targeted mask rules in high‑risk hospital areas and advice to use NHS 111 for non‑emergencies.
- Uptake gaps persist in key risk groups and protection takes around two weeks to develop, as the NHS warns planned resident‑doctor strikes on December 17–22 could deepen service strain.