Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) admitted a total of 90 patients with flu between December 30 and January 5 – 75 cases at Queen’s Hospital in Romford and 15 at King George Hospital in Goodmayes.
By comparison, there were only 22 flu cases across the trust in October and November last year.
December saw a eightfold increase in flu numbers from the previous two months, with 187 patients admitted overall.
BHRUT chief executive Matthew Trainer said the increase in flu cases is “contributing to the pressure our staff are under”.
It comes as the trust’s A&E departments experienced their “busiest month ever” in December, with this trend continuing into 2025.
Mr Trainer told this paper: “December was our busiest month ever with almost 31,000 patients attending our A&Es.”
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Across England, there was an average of 5,408 patients a day in hospital with flu last week, the NHS announced on Thursday (January 9).
This includes 256 in critical care, and has led to “a number of” hospital trusts declaring critical incidents.
But BHRUT is yet to do so.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “It is clear that hospitals are under exceptional pressure at the start of this new year, with mammoth demand stemming from this ongoing cold weather snap and respiratory viruses like flu – all on the back of 2024 being the busiest year on record for A&E and ambulance teams.
“I never fail to be impressed by the remarkable job that NHS staff across a range of services in the face of current challenges, remaining compassionate, professional and doing everything they can to see patients as quickly as possible while often working in hospitals that are full to bursting.”
He urged patients to only use 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111, local GPs and pharmacy services for other conditions.
