England flu hospital admissions more than double compared to last winter View Image

Hospitals across England are experiencing higher-than-usual flu admissions this winter, with the latest NHS data showing more than 50% increase compared with last year.

The first NHS winter situation report of 2025 reveals that an average of 1,717 people were in hospital beds with flu each day last week, including 69 in critical care. By comparison, hospitals recorded 1,098 flu patients and 39 in intensive care at the same point in 2024.

Flu admissions have also exceeded early-season numbers from previous years, with 243 patients in 2023 and 772 in 2022, indicating a significant rise in respiratory illness this winter.

While flu cases are climbing, the number of beds occupied by patients with diarrh

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