Extreme winter pressures and a flu ‘tidal wave’ are exposing a ‘cavernous gap’ between low numbers of nurses and rising demands from patients, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned.
This comes as latest NHS England data shows a surge in infections has led to a 70% increase in hospital flu cases in just seven days.
The government and NHS leaders are encouraging those eligible to get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19 without delay, but the RCN warned more nursing staff were needed to support these programmes.
According to NHS England, there was an average of 1,861 patients with flu in hospital every day last week – up from 1,099 the week before. This was a ‘staggering’ 3.5 times higher compared to the same time last year, it added.
Norovirus and RSV are also reportedly on the rise, with norovirus cases up by 10% from last week and almost two-thirds since last year.
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Some 152 children were in hospital with RSV each day last week, up by over two-fifths on the same period last year (107).
The sharp increase in seasonal illness has promoted further fears of a ‘quad-demic’ – made up of high levels of flu, Covid, RSV and norovirus.
NHS England said nurses and health workers have been ‘pulling out the stops’ to deliver almost 28 million vaccines so far in convenient places like Christmas markets, football clubs, and supermarkets.
The national booking system for flu vaccination closes on 19 December, after which people will only be able to access the flu vaccine through their GPs and some pharmacies.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today warned that ‘vaccine take-up rates lag behind levels needed to protect the NHS’.
RCN executive director for England Patricia Marquis, said: ‘The NHS is woefully underprepared for the crisis flooding into its wards this winter.
‘A nursing workforce wracked by widespread vacancies will be doing its best to keep people safe, but the reality is that there are too many patients and too few beds.’
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she added: ‘Vaccination programmes are essential for protecting patients, staff and the wider health service against respiratory illnesses circling this winter, but nursing staff are needed to deliver these too.
‘This winter is exposing the cavernous gap between the low numbers of nursing staff and rising demand from patients.
‘It also demonstrates that we cannot wait much longer to boost capacity in community services and social care.
‘But to do that, ministers must start valuing our profession properly.’
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: ‘The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning for patients and for the NHS – the figures are adding to our ‘quad-demic’ worries.’
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Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting added: ‘With A&Es facing record demand, we are continuing to encourage people to protect themselves, their family, and the NHS by getting vaccinated before it’s too late.’
NHS England data also showed more ambulance contacts than any other November (1.18 million) – up 6% on last year.
It was also the busiest November on record for A&E staff with a total of 2.31 million attendances – 7% higher than last year.
