Infection control measures mean even empty beds sometimes have to be closed (Image: Getty)
Cases of the vomiting bug finally appear to have peaked, with an average of 1,094 patients a day in last week, down slightly from 1,134 the week before. However, health chiefs warned winter was “certainly not over” as more than 40,000 bed days were lost to the virus in February alone. Infection control measures mean even unoccupied beds sometimes have to be closed to protect patients, adding to pressures on capacity.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, England’s national medical director, said: “Despite the sunnier weather this week showing some early signs of Spring, these latest figures show winter is certainly not over for NHS staff who are continuing to work tirelessly to treat thousands of patients with norovirus and other nasty winter viruses each day. Last month the NHS lost almost 44,000 bed days to norovirus, adding to already incredibly pressured bed occupancy levels and with flu, RSV and staff absences all up on last year, we are certainly not out of the woods yet.”
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The number of patients on wards with flu fell slightly last week to 1,546, and the number with increased slightly to 1,101. High levels of sickness among stage also meant there were 49,223 staff absences per day.
And discharge delays meant 13,430 beds were taken up by patients who were medically fit to leave hospital. Ambulance teams also lost 22,863 hours due to handover delays.
Prof Powis urged people to help stop the spread of norovirus by washing your hands “frequently with soap and water, and if you’re unwell to avoid mixing with other people until you have not had symptoms for two days.
“Hospitals continue to run at near capacity, with added pressure from almost one in seven beds taken up by patients who don’t need to be in hospital, and as these pressure continue it is vital that the public continue to use 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 – and 111 online – if you need advice and support for other conditions.”
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Gauri Godbole, deputy director of gastrointestinal infections at the UK Health Security Agency, said levels of nor virus nonetheless remained high for this time of year.
She added: “We are seeing the biggest impacts in health and social care settings, such as hospitals and care homes.
“If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, please do not visit hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others, as you can still pass on the virus during this time.”
Health Secretary said: “I want to thank NHS staff for their tireless work in the face of winter pressures and, while the latest figures point to slight easing in certain areas, the health service remains under considerable strain.
“To ease the burden of seasonal pressures this year, we have delivered more than 29 million vaccinations and ended the damaging strikes, keeping doctors on the front line, rather than the picket line.
“Through the government’s Plan for Change, we are combining investment and reform to fix our broken NHS and make it fit for the future.”