Fears Flu Will Kill Thousands After Doctors' Strike
Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, warned that a severe flu season is expected to strike just as the health service recovers from a five-day strike by resident doctors.
The NHS faces what could become its most difficult winter yet, with an early flu outbreak predicted to claim thousands of lives following the disruption caused by the walkout. Hospitals are likely to remain at or near capacity from December through March, putting enormous strain on recovery efforts.
“The NHS is braced for its worst ever winter,” said Mackey. “Hospitals could be at capacity from December to March.”
In response, health officials have issued a nationwide “flu jab SOS,” urging people to get vaccinated next week to ensure protection before the flu wave peaks later this month.
This follows Australia’s record-breaking flu season, often considered a reliable indicator for what the UK can expect. Hospital admissions for flu in England have jumped 60 percent in just one week, from 251 to 422 cases. The rate is already as high as it normally would be in early December.
“The surge has come unusually early,” officials noted, warning that many at-risk individuals might not realize they qualify for a free vaccine.
Only 28.9 percent of people with long-term health conditions have received this year’s flu shot. New analysis reveals flu-related deaths in England more than doubled last year, rising from 3,555 to 7,757 fatalities.
Author’s Summary: NHS England warns of a severe early flu season threatening thousands of lives amid post-strike recovery, urging mass vaccination as hospital pressures rise.