Winter ‘quad-demic’ could strike this Christmas as flu and norovirus cases surge – and NHS faces ‘long winter ahead’
NHS leaders warn that the health sector is busier than ever, with FLU cases four times higher than they were at this time last year.
According to Professor Sir Stephen Powis, the medical director of England, a quad-demic of viruses is imminent.
Wards are already 95% filled during the NHS’s peak season, which is winter.
Medical professionals worry that hospitals may find it difficult to handle the flu, COVID, cold virus, RSV, and vomiting bugnorovirus outbreaks.
Before winter arrives, the NHS is busier than it has ever been, according to Prof. Powis.
Even though December has just begun, the number of hospitalized cases of flu and norovirus is rapidly increasing.
Read more on the NHS
A tripledemic of COVID, flu, and RSV has been warned of, but with an increase in norovirus incidence, this could quickly turn into an aquad-demic.
We have a long winter to come.
According to data, there were around 1,100 hospitalized patients with the flu last week, compared to 240 during the same period in 2023.
Covid infected 1,400 more patients, and norovirus infected 750 more.
Of the 12,000 hospital beds, one in eight are occupied by patients who are well enough to return home.
“There is hardly a spare bed in our NHS,” stated Patricia Marquis, director of the Royal College of Nursing.
NHS launches major new stroke campaign as thousands delay calling 999 by nearly 90 minutes
A third of patients wait 30 minutes or more to enter A&E after arriving, and ambulance delays are significantly longer than they were a year ago.
This comes after Sir Keir Starmeron promised on Thursday to clear the backlog in the NHS by 2029.
He stated that hospitals will have to meet the goal of 92% of scheduled procedures being completed in 18 weeks, as opposed to the existing rate of 59%.
According to NHS Providers, a group that advocates for hospital administrators, ministers ought to be realistic.
It is crucial that the emphasis on reducing wait times for standard procedures and appointments doesn’t come at the expense of other key services for which patients must wait a long period, stated Chief Executive Saffron Cordery.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, stated: For far too long, an annual winter crisis has been the standard.
Read More on The US Sun
We will implement long-term changes that will establish a year-round health care system for all of us.
This is the best method to protect yourself this winter, so I urge anybody who is eligible to get vaccinated against the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 viruses.
TIMELINE OF THE NHS WAITING LIST
The NHS waiting list in England has more than doubled in the last ten years, making it a political hot spot.
The number of patient-due procedures, including surgeries and non-surgical treatments, is counted in the England statistics.
Because the procedures are scheduled rather than emergency, they are referred to as elective care. The numbers also include certain cancer procedures, but many are standard surgeries like hip or knee replacements, cataracts, or kidney stones.
The wait list has evolved as follows throughout time:
August 2007: $4.19 million current records’ first entry.
December 2009: 2.32 million The lowest waiting list ever recorded in contemporary times.
April 2013: 2.75 million The NHS is reorganized by the combination of Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. Jeremy Hunt, the current chancellor, served as the Health Secretary.
For the first time in forty years, 3.79 million junior physicians went on strike in April 2016. The prime minister is chosen to be Theresa May.
February 2020: 4.57 million the month leading up to March 2020, the first COVID lockdown in the UK.
September 2021: 5.61 million the removal of all Covid-related legislative restrictions in the UK.
Feb. 2023: 7.21 million With effect from April 2024, new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promises to cut waiting lists in a year.
July 2023: 7.77 million The biggest number ever recorded occurs during a year when junior physicians, consultants, nurses, and ambulance drivers went on strike.
February 2024: 7.54 million Ministers acknowledge that the commitment to reduce the backlog has not been fulfilled.
August 2024: Under Keir Starmer’s new Labour Government, the 7.64 million list keeps growing.
July 2024: 7.57 million There is some hope because the one percent drop is the first since February.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!