A triple hit of Influenza, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus is causing a spike in demand.
A wave of hospitals in England have declared critical incidents as they struggle to cope with the winter demand.
NHS trusts in Dorset, Surrey, Sussex, Portsmouth, and Nottingham join a growing list of hospitals that say they are struggling to keep up with demand. Trusts say Accident and Emergency departments, alongside acute respiratory services, are being hit hard due to a triple hit of Influenza, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
It comes on top of paediatric services already being under high demand due to an increased number of patients with Step A or Scarlet Fever.
The organisation representing NHS trust in England has warned services are “facing one of the toughest winters in its history”.
The toughest winters in its history.
NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said: “The number of critical incidents we have seen declared over recent days are an accumulation of a number of difficult challenges meaning the NHS is facing one of the toughest winters in its history.
“High rates of flu, ongoing issues with delayed discharge and the disruptive impact of industrial action are compounding the longer-term issues of over 130,000 NHS vacancies, a decade-long lack of investment in capital and the elective backlog. This is bringing pressures to a head in many parts of the country.
Mr Taylor continued, “Whilst secondary care is where these challenges are perhaps the most visible, it’s also the case that primary, community and mental health care are under huge strain and many of the most vulnerable members of our communities rely on these services most.”
