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Dec
Rising flu cases putting pressure on Harrogate hospital as trust urges vaccinations
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A rapidly rising number of flu cases is adding pressure to Harrogate hospital’s services, trust officials have said.
The move comes as hospitals across England have been contending with a rise in flu patients due to a new mutated version of the virus, which has been dubbed “super flu”.
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital on Lancaster Park Road, said flu season had started earlier than usual and encouraged people to get their vaccinations for the virus.
A trust spokesperson told the Stray Ferret that over the last week 54 adults had tested positive for flu and 22 cases had been found in children.
Despite being dubbed “super flu”, experts say the virus it is not more severe or harder to treat.
A trust spokesperson said:
Winter is always a challenging time of year for the NHS with an increase in the number of people presenting themselves at our hospital with respiratory viruses.
This year, the flu season has started earlier than usual, and with cases rising rapidly it is adding to the pressures we are facing.
We would encourage anyone who is eligible to get their flu vaccine now to make sure they and their loved ones are protected.
They added that the recent opening of the hospital’s acute medical centre, which helps streamline urgent care cases, means the trust is “better prepared” for the winter months.
The spokesperson added:
The increasing number of flu cases can put significant pressure on our Emergency Department leading to long waits. For people who require medical assistance and are considering visiting our Emergency Department, unless it’s a life-threatening or severe illness or injury, we would ask them to contact NHS 111 first either by calling or going online. The NHS will help them right away and if they need urgent care, the NHS can book them in to be seen quickly and safely.
People with life-threatening illnesses or injuries should continue to dial 999 and anyone who arrives at our Emergency Department without calling NHS 111 will still receive medical care, with those needing emergency treatment prioritised.
The move comes as in the week up to Sunday there were 2,660 flu cases a day on average in hospital in England.
NHS England said this was the equivalent of having three hospitals full of flu patients.
Wes Streeting, health secretary, told LBC that it was "probably the worst pressure the NHS has faced since covid".
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