NHS England reported on 18 January 2024 that thousands of people were in hospital with seasonal viruses in the week ending 14 January, including rising numbers with norovirus, as staff continued to deal with winter pressures1.
The weekly update showed an average of 452 patients a day in hospital with diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms, up by a fifth from 377 a fortnight earlier and nearly a third higher than the same time last year, when the figure was 3441. There were also an average of 3,949 patients with Covid, up 22% on 3,248 a month earlier, and 1,416 patients a day in hospital with flu, including 81 in critical care1. Around 19 in every 20 adult beds were occupied1.
| Measure | Latest figure | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Patients with diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms (daily average) | 452 | Up a fifth from 377 a fortnight earlier; nearly a third higher than 344 a year earlier |
| Patients with Covid (daily average) | 3,949 | Up 22% on 3,248 a month earlier |
| Patients with flu (daily average, week ending 14 January) | 1,416, including 81 in critical care | Not reported |
| Adult bed occupancy | Around 19 in every 20 beds | Not reported |
| Hours lost to ambulance handover delays | 16,554 | Down 43% in a week from 28,872 |
| Core beds available | 99,459 | Up 1,840 in two weeks |
| NHS 111 calls answered in a week | 355,739 | Over 54,000 more than last year; almost three quarters answered in 60 seconds |
| Patients medically ready but not discharged (daily average) | 13,637 | Highest this winter; lower than 14,036 at this point last year |
NHS England said the reduction in ambulance waits showed its urgent and emergency care recovery plan was making an impact alongside winter plans, and that measures in the plan were helping to improve hospital flow and increase the number of ambulance hours on the road1. Its national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said:
"I am grateful for the continued hard work to keep patients safe and give them the best possible care, and as always we encourage patients to continue to only use 999 and A&E in an emergency and use 111 online for other conditions."
In the same statement, Professor Powis said the figures showed a challenging winter, with staff facing winter viruses, high bed occupancy and the knock-on effects from strikes, and that a cold snap that week could see a jump in the number of people needing care1. He also said staff must contend with continued issues discharging patients who are medically fit due to a lack of social care capacity, and a year-on-year increase in ambulances arriving at hospitals1.
Why it matters for households
The figures cover England and the week ending 14 January 2024. They describe pressure on hospital and ambulance services rather than any change to rules for households. For anyone needing urgent help, NHS England's advice, given by its national medical director, is to use 999 and A&E only in an emergency and to use 111 online for other conditions1. The report notes that almost three quarters of NHS 111 calls were answered within 60 seconds that week1. The health emergencies hub covers how to prepare for and respond to illness and pressure on health services.
What happens next
NHS England publishes weekly urgent and emergency care situation reports for 2023-24, and the report says the latest weekly data is available on its website1. No further dates are given in the report.
