Dozens of flu patients at the Royal Free London
Dozens of flu patients were in hospital at the Royal Free London last week, figures show.
Across England, more beds were occupied by flu patients in the first week of January than the week before – although figures remain below the same point last year.
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Hide AdNew figures from NHS England show an average of 36 beds were occupied each day by patients with influenza at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust in the week to Sunday January 7.
This was a decrease on the week to December 31, when an average of 41 patients were in hospital.
On January 7 itself, six patients at the trust were in critical care.
Most cases of flu can be treated at home with rest, hydration and over-the-counter medication. The NHS advises limiting contact with others to avoid spreading the virus.
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Hide AdAcross the country, an average of 1,548 patients were in hospital each day last week with flu in the week to January 7 – including 107 in critical care beds.
Of these, 332 were in London. This was up from 289 the week before.
Separate figures from the UK Health Security Agency show new hospital admissions decreased slightly over the same period, even as the number of beds occupied went up.
Dr Alexander Allen, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "It’s promising that we see a decline in both flu hospital admissions and Covid-19, but this may be partly down to how people mix and seek health services differently over the Christmas period.
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Hide Ad"Some indicators show that flu cases in the community are on the rise, so we are not out of flu season just yet."
He added: "Flu and Covid-19 spread more easily as we spend more time indoors during the colder months. If you are showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, try to reduce contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable."
The UKHSA is urging those eligible to get a free flu vaccine.
This winter remains less severe for flu hospitalisations than the year before.
At the same point last year, England was in the middle of its worst flu season for a decade – with more than 5,000 people in hospital beds with the illness.