The ‘tidal wave’ of flu and winter illnesses continues. Hospitals in England have just had their busiest week of this winter so far. More than 98,000 patients, on average, were in hospital beds each day last week – the highest level this winter – with 96% of adult beds occupied.
Norovirus cases remain high
The latest national norovirus report shows that norovirus activity has remained high in recent weeks and has started to increase again.
The total number of norovirus laboratory reports during weeks 3 and 4 of 2025 was more than double (114.5%) the 5-season average for the same period 2-week period. Reporting remained highest in adults aged 65 years and over.
You can read more about why norovirus reporting is so high at the moment in our latest blog.
We are reminding the public there are some simple steps you can take to avoid spreading the infection:
- Stay home for 48 hours after symptoms clear
- Wash hands with soap & warm water
- Don’t prepare food for others
- Drink lots to avoid dehydration.
- Can you catch Norovirus twice? “Just because you’ve had norovirus doesn’t mean you won’t get it again.
At present 898 hospital beds are filled on average every day by patients suffering from norovirus-like symptoms but flu cases continue falling, after peaking in January. Latest figures show nearly 13,800 patients in hospital even though medically fit to be discharged – a record high this winter. The twin pressures of winter viruses and problems discharging patients means hospitals are close to full – even as more beds have been opened to manage the increased demand. The rising pressures on hospitals have led to reports of patients facing long delays in A&E and ambulances queuing outside.
Flu rates overall decreased across most indicators and were at medium activity levels – there continues to be an increase in influenza B across some indicators. Covid activity remained stable across most indicators and was at baseline activity levels. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) activity showed a mixed picture and was circulating at low levels overall. Norovirus spreads very easily with just a few viral particles needed to infect someone
We can’t just blame the NHS and not share responsibility. In November 2024 NHS England estimated up to 20% of A&E attendances were avoidable or would have been better treated elsewhere. UK non-urgent cases account for an estimated 40% of 999 calls attended by ambulances, while only 8% of 999 calls are for life-threatening illnesses or injuries. You can help:
Please use NHS services wisely; Choose the right service: Visit highly trained local pharmacists for advice and recommended treatments on minor illnesses, conditions or symptoms that don’t involve flu. For urgent medical advice, visit NHS 111 Online or call 111, which is available 24/7. Only call 999 or visit A&E for life-threatening emergencies such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding.
Practice good hygiene, wash hands frequently and cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
The present severe situation is reflected by the stories about the length of waits and circumstances in which patients are being kept in A&E departments. It’s extraordinary that hospitals are advertising for ‘corridor nurses’. Last month the Royal College of Nursing warned lives were being put at risk by what they called corridor care with patients having to be treated in makeshift areas including car parks, cupboards and nursing stations. “It’s worrying that we’re seeing record-breaking pressure despite the tireless efforts of trust leaders and frontline teams who are doing their level best to provide high quality care and to see patients as quickly as possible in very challenging circumstances.”
In partnership this week the BBC broadcast a Newsnight special on Wednesday, then a full day, cross-programme schedule on Thursday from the Royal Free Hospitals. By 10am the A&E unit was full and within hours the hospital had to declare it had reached alert level four, signifying to NHS central command it was under huge strain. Some patients had to be treated in corridors and patients needing to be admitted were sent to wait outside wards on trolleys and chairs to free up space in A&E. Staff told the BBC they were just about coping – although they never had to take the ultimate step of diverting ambulances to nearby hospitals.
There were plenty of other stories to tell. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj026gz751zo
Staff feel system working against them; Ageing equipment worsens waits; Patients in 30s having heart attacks; Operation backlog could take 10 years to clear; Amazing things do happen.
Latest data from the Mid & South Essex Foundation Trust with its hospitals at Basildon, Chelmsford and Southend include:
- 62.8% patients seen within 4 hours in A&Es, against a target of 78%
- 37 minutes average time for ambulances to handover patients, compared with 46 minutes in East of England and 63 minutes nationally
- 67.2% patients received cancer diagnosis results within 28 days.
Talking of hospitals, I was discharged after writing last week’s article following my NHS hip replacement operation. My grandmother had a very early hip operation at Stanmore Hospital back early in the 1960s. Huge advances since then. Very impressed by it all. The use of technology for treatments and monitoring are numerous. Plus the medicines used to protect healthy recovery are comprehensive. My first experience of a serious operation and I’m impressed by our wonderful NHS. Huge team effort everyone knows their role and teamwork is excellent. First week: no pain, no gain! I’m following the exercise regime and after 7-day check am on track. My initial conclusions: the medical operations of our NHS remain top class. We need a long-term plan and approach to make our NHS function organisationally. This must not be a party political ‘football’ but a permanent commitment never to let it go so badly wrong again.
GP practices across Mid & South Essex delivered almost seven million appointments in 2024, representing a 5% increase from the previous year. This area continues to exceed the national average for face-to-face appointments, with 75% of consultations conducted in person. To improve access to healthcare, services have been extended beyond traditional GP appointments. Patients can now self-refer to various services, including eye care and physiotherapy, and access healthcare advice through the NHS App. Local pharmacies have also provided over 99,000 consultations through the Pharmacy First service last year.
Additionally, all GP practices in our region now feature digital phone systems, making it easier for patients to manage their appointments and reduce waiting times.
On 30 January the Government’s 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance were published. The focus will be on:
- reducing the time people wait for elective care
- improving A&E waiting times and ambulance response times
- improving patients’ experience and access to general practice and urgent dental care
- improving patient flow through mental health crisis and acute pathways, and improving access to children and young people’s mental health services.
Local integrated care systems will get increased funding and more flexibility to improve and increase services.
NHS England says Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) is one of the applications of artificial intelligence which holds the most promise to improve productivity in the NHS over the coming years. It captures and documents clinical conversations in real time, with the potential then – through integration with wider systems – to automate things like coding and referrals.
NHSE has been working with a number of GP surgeries to trial the safe and effective use of AVT in patient consultations, and the early results are positive – GPs report they need to do less admin during the consultation, and patients report they feel more heard. One of the participating Practices says this technology can be safely embedded and exploited to both reduce GP administrative workload and improve patient experience.
This week is HIV Testing Week. Testing for HIV is free, fast, confidential and simple – you can even do it at home.
HIV can affect anyone, no matter your gender or sexual orientation. Testing allows people to have access to free prevention interventions such as PrEP (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis) and, should you test positive, ensures timely access to treatment that saves lives and prevents the virus being passed on.
In 2023 testing in community settings increased by 7% compared to 2022.
To build on this success, the Government has announced that over 20,000 self-testing and self-sampling kits will be made available to help end HIV transmissions by the end of the decade.
The government has also announced it will extend the national HIV prevention programme, HIV Prevention England (HPE), by a year. The campaign, delivered by the Terrence Higgins Trust and local partners, carries out vital work to increase testing for groups disproportionally affected by HIV and reduce stigma, as well as raise awareness of ways to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Find out more about HIV testing, protection and treatment: It Starts With Me
Monday 3 February was beginning of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week. The NHS launched a campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs). These specialist services offer practical, medical and emotional support 24/7 to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused at any time in their life, and can be accessed directly and confidentially for victims who may not wish to go to the Police at the time. The nearest one to SWF is at Brentwood Community Hospital, Crescent Drive, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8DR, 01277 240 620 (Office Hours Only).
Tuesday 4 February was World Cancer Day. And on Wednesday NHS England launched a new national cervical cancer prevention campaign, which it hopes will contribute to the goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through uptake of HPV vaccines.
Today fans of the Women’s Super League will be the first to see a new campaign on cervical cancer awareness supported by Arsenal Women’s FC, aiming to drive uptake of both the HPV vaccine and cervical screening invites.
Public health news is on our website and in weekly e-newsletters. SWF Library provides online services and help with internet access. For health & welfare information and subscription to our newsletter, email swfhealthsocial@outlook.com , or leave voicemails on 01245 322079. https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/
SWF Health & Social Care Group 
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