The number of patients in hospital with flu has fallen, but NHS bosses have warned that another round of colds could increase pressure on the health service in the coming days.
Early January is normally the busiest time of year for the health service, so NHS England said the drop in flu cases was welcome.
But the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued cold health warnings, meaning there are likely to be significant impacts on the healthcare system in the coming days.
UKHSA warns that impacts could include a likely increase in demand for health services, difficulties in maintaining temperatures in hospitals and staffing issues due to external factors such as travel delays.
NHS England Medical Director Prof Meghana Pandit said: “It is welcome news to see a decline in the number of people admitted to hospital with flu, thanks in part to the extraordinary efforts of NHS staff, with over half a million more people vaccinated against flu compared to the same period last year.”
But she added: “The NHS is far from complacent as temperatures drop, meaning pressure is likely to increase in the new year and demand for services remains high, with NHS 111 services recording their second busiest day in two years on Saturday.”
“It is vital that the public continues to use 999 and A&E only in life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 and 111 online for other conditions,” Prof Meghana concluded.
Experts say the virus could still bounce back in the coming weeks, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting saying: “We are still facing intense pressure and with this biting cold snap bringing additional challenges, it is more important than ever that those eligible get their flu jab and that people only go to A&E in an emergency.”
