Festive gatherings may have led to ‘bounce back’ in winter viruses

Christmas and new year gatherings may have caused a “bounce back” in winter viruses, with the number of people in hospital with flu up slightly, according to NHS England.

People in hospital beds with flu in England averaged 2,924 each day during the week ending January 4, up 9% from 2,676 the previous week. The figure had previously been on a downwards trend, after reaching 3,140 in the week ending December 14. The latest round of NHS data also shows there has been a sharp increase in the proportion of patients experiencing long waits in ambulances outside hospitals in England before being handed over to A&E teams. Some 33% of patients arriving by ambulance at hospitals last week waited at least 30 minutes to be handed over. This is up from 18% the previous week and is the highest figure so far this winter. The week did include New Year’s Eve, which is one of the busiest nights of the year for ambulance crews. Some 12% of ambulance handovers last week, or 11,805 patients, were delayed by more than an hour, up from 4% the previous week and also the highest level so far this winter. Overall, bed occupancy in England’s hospitals was up 5% on the previous week at just under 92%. NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit said: “It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter, with hospitals again experiencing a rise in patients admitted with flu and other respiratory virus cases last week. “The cold weather also means we are also seeing more vulnerable patients with respiratory problems in A&E and more injuries from slips and falls due to the icy conditions, so it remains an extremely busy time. “Staff continue to work incredibly hard and we are seeing teams across the country pulling out all the stops to ensure patients get the care they need. “It remains important that people come forward for care as usual and there are still plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated and get protected against flu.” Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Today’s data shows we are not out of the woods yet. “While the NHS is better prepared and performing more strongly than this time last year thanks to the tireless work of staff, the current cold snap is putting fresh pressure on frontline services. “Flu can be serious, particularly for older people, young children and those with underlying conditions, and vaccination remains the best protection. I urge everyone who is eligible to get their flu jab as soon as possible. “By acting now, we can help keep people out of hospital, support our NHS staff through the toughest weeks of winter, and ensure emergency care is there for those who need it most.”

Published: 08/01/2026 by Radio NewsHub