NHS England reported on 31 December 2025 that flu cases in hospital surpassed 3,000 in the week before Christmas, a slight fall on the week before, according to weekly winter virus figures published that day1. The service said hospitals remain extremely busy, with around 95 per cent of adult beds filled and 94,118 patients in hospital each day1.
Other winter viruses are also circulating. An average of 707 patients a day were in hospital with Covid, and 285 patients a day were in hospital with norovirus last week1. Almost 18.5 million people have been vaccinated against flu, half a million more than the same week last year1. NHS England said ambulance handovers improved by six minutes compared with the previous week and by more than 17 minutes on the same period last year, and that more than eight in ten calls to NHS 111 were answered within a minute, up from just over seven in ten the previous week1.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber and yellow cold health alerts for England as temperatures in the coming days are set to drop below freezing, which NHS England said could increase pressure on hospitals1. Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS National Medical Director, said flu cases continue to rise in some pockets of the country1.
"While there are signs of improvement and the NHS is in calmer waters, pressures on hospitals remain incredibly high and we're not out of danger yet with temperatures set to drop in the coming days."
Pandit asked the public to use 999 and A&E only for life-threatening emergencies and to use NHS 111 and 111 online for other conditions, and said those eligible for a flu jab who have not had one should come forward because it is not too late1. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said more than half a million more flu jabs had been delivered this year than last, but that "we are not out of the woods yet, with flu continuing to be a challenge"1.
| Measure | Latest figure | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Flu patients in hospital | More than 3,000 in week before Christmas | Slight fall on week before |
| Adult beds filled | Around 95 per cent | Not reported |
| Patients in hospital each day | 94,118 | Not reported |
| Patients in hospital with Covid (average) | 707 | Not reported |
| Patients a day in hospital with norovirus | 285 last week | Not reported |
| People vaccinated against flu | Almost 18.5 million | Half a million more than same week last year |
| Ambulance handovers | Improved by six minutes | More than 17 minutes better than same period last year |
| NHS 111 calls answered within a minute | More than eight in ten | Up from just over seven in ten the previous week |
Why it matters for households
The figures cover the week before Christmas and were published on 31 December 2025, so they describe pressure on hospitals over the holiday period rather than the days since1. The cold health alerts issued by UKHSA apply to England, with temperatures forecast to fall below freezing in the coming days1. NHS England links the colder weather to possible further pressure on hospitals1. For households, the reported consequences are longer or busier conditions at NHS services: around 95 per cent of adult beds were filled, and flu, Covid and norovirus patients were all being treated in hospital in the same week1. The NHS National Medical Director's advice, as published, is that 999 and A&E are for life-threatening emergencies only, that NHS 111 and 111 online are for other conditions, and that eligible people who have not had a flu jab can still come forward1. General guidance on health emergencies is set out in the guide to health emergencies.
What happens next
NHS England publishes weekly winter data, and it said the latest weekly winter data is available on its website1. The cold health alerts for England remain in place as temperatures are set to drop below freezing in the coming days1. The page carrying the announcement was last updated on 5 January 20261. No further dates for updated figures have been reported.
