Top doctor's warning as norovirus and flu wave puts NHS under 'extraordinary strain'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A wave of norovirus and flu cases is putting the NHS under ‘extraordinary pressure’, while thousands of patients who no longer need to be on wards languish in beds waiting to go home.

England’s top doctor has condemned the NHS’ current status ahead of yet another ‘extremely challenging week’. Hospitals could lose up to half of their medical workforce for a 96-hour strike from Tuesday to Saturday next week as junior doctors take industrial action over pay and working conditions.

The NHS’s national medical director shared concerns about the norovirus and flu cases putting a strain on services with hundreds of patients in hospital, more than 7,000 people in hospital with Covid, and some 13,000 beds being taken up by patients no longer needing to be in hospital. READ MORE: 'I missed birthday parties, I'd dread being asked to drinks - I had no clue how ill I was' In the week leading up to April 2, the number of adult beds taken up by patients with norovirus symptoms was 370.

Last year the same figure was 188. NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “NHS staff continue to face extraordinary pressure, with over 13,000 beds being taken up by patients who no longer need to be in hospital every day last week and more than 19 out of 20 adult beds occupied. “Norovirus and flu cases have continued to put strain on services with hundreds of patients in hospital beds across the country, and a further 7,556 in hospital with Covid, while our NHS 111 service received over 440,000 calls last week alone.” In Greater Manchester, as of 27 March, there were 858 people medically fit for discharge in hospital.