People urged to get flu jab as hospital admissions highest for three years
UNDER PRESSURE: Hull Royal Infirmary
EXCLUSIVE
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
An infectious diseases consultant is urging people to get flu jabs after figures obtained by The Hull Story showed hospital admissions for patients with the virus are higher than at any time over the last three years.
The call comes as more than a dozen hospitals across the country declared critical incidents amid a soaring number of cases.
We can reveal that a total of 317 patients were admitted to hospital in Hull with flu in December, far higher than the 29 cases in December 2023 (when the flu season came later), and higher than the 285 cases in the same month in 2022.
The influx has resulted in the equivalent of almost two full wards now being dedicated to flu patients across Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.
Around two in every three people with confirmed flu in hospitals across the Humber region are aged over 65, one of the groups identified as most ‘at risk’ from the winter virus.
With concerns that flu cases will rise again following festive get-togethers, and as children return to school, and with Professor Stephen Powis, National Medical Director for NHS England, warning the NHS could be on course for one of its worst ever winters, local people are being urged to take up the vaccine wherever it’s offered.
Dr Nick Easom, consultant in infectious diseases at NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: “The management of patients with flu has been posing challenges for our hospital wards and departments for almost two months now.
“While most healthy people can see off the worst of the virus in a week or so, it can potentially be much more serious in older people and those who are already ill or vulnerable to infection.
“At such a busy time of year, when beds are already in high demand, creating additional space and the process of deep cleaning to reopen beds makes things even more difficult for our teams. Currently we have the equivalent of almost two full wards dedicated to managing patients with flu across Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill, and more than a full ward at Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby too.
‘NOT TOO LATE FOR FLU JAB’: Dr Nick Easom
“Staff are wearing face masks once again to protect colleagues and visitors, but there is plenty that other people can to do reduce their own risk of infection.”
Dr Easom said the flu jab can still be highly effective even if taken at this time of year.
“It’s not too late to get the flu jab, and it can still offer important protection for those most at risk from the virus,” he said. “GP surgeries are offering the vaccine to eligible patients right through until March, so if you’ve been invited but not yet taken up the offer of a flu jab, please do so as soon as possible.
“If you have flu-like symptoms and need medical advice, please contact NHS111 in the first instance rather than coming to hospital as this risks spreading infection to others, and if you do need to visit us for any reason, please be sure to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, and consider wearing a facemask if you’re able to do so.”
More information on managing the symptoms of flu at home can be found on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/
NHS Humber Health Partnership is one of the biggest groups in the NHS, made up of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.