THE NHS is on course for one of its worst flu seasons ever, England’s medical director warned yesterday.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis said the health service is battling rising cases of winter viruses.
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It comes as figures suggest 1.1million people could not get a GP appointment when they tried before Christmas.
Last year saw an increase in A&E visits for minor ailments like hiccups and earache as desperate patients struggled to get help.
The Welsh Ambulance Service yesterday said it had a backlog of 999 calls and urged revellers to drink sensibly on New Year’s Eve.
The turn of the year is one of the NHS’ busiest nights.
We expect the peak is yet to come
Professor Sir Stephen Powis
It hits midway through a “quad-demic” of the winter bugs flu, RSV, Covid and norovirus.
Prof Powis said: “The winter flu season has not only hit the NHS early this year, but it is potentially on track to be one of the worst we have ever seen as the ‘quad-demic’ continues.
“Frontline NHS staff are under significant pressure.
“As families and friends have gathered over the festive period we expect the peak of seasonal viruses is yet to come.”
He said people should only call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency and should use 111 for other urgent issues.
The Welsh Ambulance Service declared a critical incident on Monday night and said that at one point it had a backlog of 340 phone calls.
Chief executive, Jason Killens, apologised to patients and said: “People out celebrating can help us by drinking sensibly, eating before they go out and looking after their friends.”
NHS figures released before Christmas showed flu cases had already passed last winter’s peak and were still rising.
Analysis by the Liberal Democrats showed 5.3 per cent of people were unable to make contact with their GP when they tried in October and November – around 1.1m patients.
A further 18 per cent took two or more days to get through.
Lib Dem MP Jess Brown-Fuller said: “The government must act urgently to ensure patients can see their GP when they need to.
“The lack of GP appointments is leading to unnecessary hospital admissions, putting more strain on A&E and costing the NHS even more money.”
Symptoms of RSV
PEOPLE commonly show symptoms of the virus four to six days after being infected.
Signs include:
- Runny nose
- Decrease in appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
But symptoms can be much more subtle in very young babies, including irritability, decreased activity and breathing difficulties.
Most children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.
It can cause a condition called bronchiolitis in babies and young children.
Symptoms of bronchiolitis in very young infants include:
- Refusal to breastfeed or bottle-feed
- Breathing more quickly and noisily (wheezing)
- Seeming very tired, upset or inactive
- Signs of dehydration – lack of tears when crying, little or no urine in their nappy for six hours, and cool, dry skin
Source: CDC, Asthma + Lung UK
