More important things about healthcare have happened this week; new and updated items follow first.
Data for week 49 1-7 December shows:
- influenza increased further and is at medium levels.
- COVID-19 showed mixed trends and is circulating at baseline levels.
- respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) showed mixed trends and is circulating at medium levels.
- Norovirus has increased in recent weeks and is at expected levels; the highest rate is among children mostly aged 0-4 years.
The number of flu patients in hospital has hit a record high for this time of year. The NHS says it’s facing its “worst-case scenario” after the number of people in hospital with flu jumped by 55% in a week in England. Between 5,000 and 8,000 hospital beds could be filled with flu patients this weekend. The major difference between 2025’s flu season and the previous three years is that the virus started spreading around a month earlier. So-called ‘super-flu’ is not a medical term and it does not mean the virus is more severe or harder to treat. Even though the genetic make-up of the virus has shifted this winter, the main jab is still thought to offer effective protection, particularly against severe disease.
But the general public has not encountered this exact version of flu before, which means there may be less immunity built up in society, allowing it to spread more easily. Children and young people are most affected. The message coming from doctors and the NHS is for people in vulnerable groups to continue to come forward for a flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is free on the NHS for those over 65-years-old, young children, pregnant women, those with certain health conditions, carers, and front-line health and social care workers. People in other groups can get the same vaccine for between £15 and £25 from high street pharmacists.
On 10 December the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) declared its highest alert level due to “a huge spike in demand”. It received almost 24,000 999 calls in the week ending 30 November, rising by nearly 3,000 on the previous seven days. The CEO said: “There is an extraordinary level of pressure on the health system nationally.”
Patients have been advised to make their own way to hospital where it is clinically safe to do so. Ambulance staff have been facing rising handover delays at hospitals, where pressure is mounting from winter illnesses. “We have seen a huge spike in demand, driven by an increase in respiratory illness, which means many hospitals are at capacity and our ambulance resources are stretched as a result. Call handlers have been advised to prioritise patients with immediately life-threatening conditions. The public are urged to think carefully before using 999.
Meanwhile, NHS bosses urge patients not to clog up A&E with everyday niggles as new figures show thousands turned to hospitals for minor ailments including hiccups and ingrowing toenails last winter. Patients with minor conditions are advised to seek help elsewhere, including from pharmacists, GPs and NHS 111 (via the phone or online) as some can be managed at home. As winter pressures increase and local NHS services experience higher demand, we’re all asked to play our part by using services wisely. Please remember: A&E is for life-threatening emergencies or serious injuries only. NHS services work best when everyone chooses the right option for their needs, helping ensure emergency teams can focus on those who need them most.
Mid & South Essex local research highlights:
- 42% of people who visited A&E for a non-emergency said they went because they believed they would be seen faster.
- 22% later realised they could have been treated by another NHS service such as a pharmacy, NHS 111 or their GP practice.
- 43% of people locally say they have had a winter illness recently. More than half chose to manage symptoms at home, while a quarter sought advice from their pharmacy.
Last week saw the launch of the NHS Service Access PR campaign to help improve our understanding of the different NHS services available as we head into winter and help ease pressure on urgent and emergency care services. The campaign features a short film, titled ‘24 hours NOT in A&E’, playing homage to the format of popular TV documentary ‘24 Hours in A&E’. The film at 24 hours NOT in A&E | NHS focuses on pharmacy, NHS 111, the NHS App and GP digital access (online consultation request forms), showcasing the things that these services can help with – quickly and easily.
The Prime Minister and Health Secretary are “extremely worried” about a “double whammy” of rising numbers of flu patients in hospitals and forthcoming strikes by resident doctors in England next week. WesStreeting said the current situation was “probably the worst pressure the NHS has faced since Covid”. Following an improved Government offer the British Medical Association is holding a survey as to whether or not Resident Doctors will strike again for 5 days from 17 December. The run up to Christmas is one of the busiest times for hospitals and the NHS.This would be the 14th strike by the doctors’ union since March 2023 and is expected would cause significant disruption, particularly in hospitals. The duties of medical professionals registered with the General Medical Council include: “Patients must be able to trust medical professionals with their lives and health. To justify that trust you [medical professionals including doctors] must make the care of patients your first concern, and meet the standards expected of you…. .” Would the Resident Doctors be in breach of that duty if they strike and have they now lost public support whilst patients suffer the consequences of these strikes?
Don’t get caught short, arrange your repeat prescription before Christmas GP lead for Mid & South Essex, Dr Anna Davey, is urging people to avoid the added festive stress of arranging repeat prescriptions at the last minute by sorting them out now. Every year GP practices see a last-minute rush leading up to the festive season to arrange last minute repeat prescriptions. Local residents are asked to use the NHS app or contact their practice at least seven working days before they are due to run out of medication.
England’s Men’s Health Strategy was launched on 18 November:
- Landmark strategy published on International Men’s Day aims to tackle men’s mental health challenges, improve physical health and reduce inequalities so men and boys get on and live longer, healthier lives.
- As part of the strategy, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will team up on the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative and smash the stigma around mental health.
- Men with prostate cancer will also benefit from improved care through the strategy, alongside £3.6 million investment in suicide prevention projects targeting middle-aged men.
The Health Secretary has launched an independent review into rising demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services in England. It will look at both whether there is evidence of over-diagnosis and what gaps in support exist. There are long waits for therapy in many areas. NHS figures show rates of mental health problems and ADHD have increased significantly over the past two decades. Are people being referred on to waiting lists who do not need treatment? There is a need to examine this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding so that those who need it get timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.
An HIV Action Plan was launched on 1 December to tackle the stigma that remains a barrier for many people. Fear of judgement and discrimination means some people don’t get tested, leaving infections undiagnosed and untreated. Thousands of people across England will benefit from improved HIV testing and treatment under a new action plan designed to end new transmissions by 2030, backed by £170m. This programme will find and support people who are not accessing lifesaving HIV treatment and bring them back into care. HIV is now entirely manageable – with the right treatment, people can live long, healthy lives and cannot pass the virus on to others. Around 5,000 people are no longer in care, with reasons including mental health issues, addiction, poverty or fear of judgement.
Broomfield, Basildon & Southend Hospitals’ October Performance was:
- 74.9% (74.2% in September) patients were seen within four hours in the emergency departments, against the national standard of 78%. The expectation to meet the standard by the end of November was not met. Measures, including using direct assessment units and same day emergency care are being used, easing EDs’ pressures.
- 32 minutes (25) was the average time for ambulances to hand over patients. 75.9% of ambulances handed over within 30 minutes.
- 60.5% (59.6% in August) of patients received cancer diagnosis results within 28 days in September. Diagnostics, outpatient capacity, and support is being increased for thoracic, breast, histopathology and radiotherapy.
In the report into the government’s handling of the Covid pandemic Chairwoman Baroness Hallett said the UK’s response could be summarised as “too little, too late”. Lockdown could have been avoided completely. Lockdown a week earlier could have saved thousands of lives. ‘Chaotic’ UK government criticised. Lockdowns left ‘lasting scars’. Politicians breaking rules undermined public confidence. Devolved governments relied too much on UK. The report’s long list of recommendations, includes:
- Improve communication between the four nations during an emergency.
- Improve consideration of the impact decisions might have on people – both by the illness and the steps taken to respond to it.
- Create expert groups to advise on economic and social implications, not just the science.
- Ensure decisions and their implications are clearly communicated to the public.
- Enable greater parliamentary scrutiny of emergency powers.
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