Hospitals experience the most busy winter week so far

England’s hospitals are still the busiest week of this winter.

More than 98,000 patients, on average, were in hospital beds every day last week – the highest level in this winter – 96% occupied with adult beds.

This comes when cases of Norovirus keeps climbing – with about 1,000 beds occupied by patients with vomiting bugs – but the flu cases fall falling after being at peak in January.

About 13,800 patients were in the hospital, even though fit to be medically discharged – a record high in this winter.

NHS England’s Emergency Director Prof. Julian Redhead said: “The twin pressure of the winter virus and the problems in discharging patients means that the hospitals are close to the full-to manage the increased demand even to manage the increased demand More beds have been opened.

“While the pressure on hospitals remain incredibly high, it is important that people continue to use NHS services in a normal way – if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only 999 using or using 999 (Participation and emergency) is to use 111 and 111.

Amy Douglas, from the UK’s Health Protection Agency, said, “Norovirus cases are above which we usually see in this time of the year and the outbreaks in hospitals continue to grow.

“Just because you have Norovirus, it does not mean that you will not get it again.

“It is really important that if you have diarrhea and vomiting, you take steps to avoid passing the infection.

“Please avoid meeting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passage from infection in these settings.

“Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms stop, and do not prepare food for others at that time.

“This is because you can pass on the virus even after getting sick.”