Winter ‘quad-demic’ to strike this Christmas as norovirus cases surge – and FOUR times as many are in hospital with flu

FLU cases are four times higher than this time last year as NHS chiefs warn the health service is busier than ever.

England’s medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said a “quad-demic” of viruses is coming.

Winter is the busiest time of the year for the NHS but wards are already 95 per cent full.

Medics fear hospitals will struggle to cope with waves of flu, Covid, cold virus RSV and vomiting bug norovirus.

Prof Powis said: “The NHS is busier than it has ever been before heading into winter.

“Flu and norovirus numbers in hospitals are rising sharply and we are still only at the start of December.

“There have been warnings of a ‘tripledemic’ of Covid, flu and RSV, but with rising cases of norovirus this could fast become a ‘quad-demic’.

“There is a long winter ahead of us.”

An annual winter crisis has been the norm for too long

Wes StreetingSecretary of State for Health and Social Care

Figures show there were around 1,100 people in hospital with the flu last week, compared to 240 in the same week in 2023.

Another 1,400 patients were laid up with Covid and 750 with norovirus.

One in every eight hospital beds – 12,000 – are blocked by patients who are well enough to go home.

Patricia Marquis, director at the Royal College of Nursing, said: “There is barely a spare bed in our NHS.”

Ambulance delays are also longer than a year ago, with a third of patients waiting half an hour or longer to get into A&E after arriving.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday pledged to fix the NHS backlog by 2029.

He said that will be the deadline for hospitals to hit the target of completing 92 per cent of planned procedures within 18 weeks – compared to 59 per cent currently.

NHS Providers, which represents hospital bosses, said ministers should have a “healthy dose of realism”.

Chief executive Saffron Cordery said: “It is vital that the focus on bringing down waiting times for routine operations and appointments doesn’t come at the expense of other critical services for which patients also face long waits.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “An annual winter crisis has become the norm for too long.

“We will deliver long-term reforms that will create a health service that will be there for all of us all year round.

“I encourage anyone who is eligible to come forward for their flu, RSV and Covid jabs – it’s the best way to protect yourself this winter.”