fears thousands could be hospitalised when mutated flu wave strikes

Hospitals are bracing for a difficult few weeks,with strikes as well as the wave of infection (Picture: Getty)

This year’s flu season shows no signs of slowing down,with numbers of people hospitalised already at record levels for this time of year.

NHS boss Sir Jim Mackey warned last month that this winter ‘will be one of the toughest our staff have ever faced’.

Now,the statistics are following through,with an average of 1,717 flu patients in hospital beds in England each day last week,including 69 in critical care,according to the first of this year’s NHS winter situation reports.

This is 56% higher than the equivalent numbers for the same week in 2024,when the total was 1,098 with 39 in critical care. It is also well above levels seen at this point in both 2023 (243 patients) and 2022 (772).

Separate figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show the rate of hospital admissions for flu stood at 7.8 per 100,000 people last week,up sharply from 4.8 the previous week and almost double the rate at this point last year (4.4).

Admission rates were highest among people aged 85 and over,at 40.0 per 100,000; 75-84 year-olds (21.4); and children aged four and under (21.2).

Who is eligible for a flu jab?

Anyone can get a flu vaccine in a pharmacy,however it is only available free of charge to certain at-risk groups.

In Boots,for example,it costs £21.95 to to pay for one if you don’t fall under any of the groups below.

The NHS will fund free flu jabs for everyone aged 65 and over; for those under 65 in clinical risk groups; care home residents and carers; pregnant women; close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed; frontline health and social care workers; and children.