The number of people in hospital with the flu has jumped by 40% in the past week, according to official figures.
An average of 482 patients a day were in hospital with the flu last week, compared to 344 the week before.
Adult norovirus cases also jumped by more than a quarter with 157 beds taken up each day last week, up from 126.
Norovirus is often called the “winter vomiting bug” because it makes patients very sick for a short period.
The news comes amid reports of a ‘perfect storm’ of pressures set to hit the NHS this winter, with overall general and acute adult bed occupancy rates remaining high for the time of year.
Some 95.4% are currently full compared to 93.8% at the beginning of December 2021.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “These new figures show the NHS is facing a perfect storm with winter virus cases rapidly increasing alongside ongoing pressures in emergency care, hugely constrained bed capacity, while hospitals continue to contend with more patients coming in than going out, with thousands of patients every day in hospital who are medically fit for discharge.
“We have already said we expect this to be the NHS’s most challenging winter yet, which is why we started preparing earlier than ever before with extensive plans in place to deal with winter boosting bed capacity, including more than 40 control centres to track and manage demand 24/7, which are now live across England.
“The public can also play its part by using NHS services in the usual way – dialling 999 in an emergency and using 111 online for other health conditions – with vaccines remaining an important protection against serious illness, so please come forward if you’re eligible.”
