Last year was 'busiest year' on record for NHS, as flu cases continue to rise

The pressures on the NHS continue as high cases of flu strain resources and staff report conditions similar to the height of the pandemic. ITV News reporter Graham Stothard has more.

Last year was the busiest year ever recorded for the UK's A&Es and ambulance services, according to new figures released today by NHS England.

A&E departments faced unprecedented demand as they saw 27.42 million visits last year. This is 7.1% higher than in 2023, which was 25.61 million.

Ambulance teams also treated a record number 806,405 patients in December taking the total number to 8.94 million for 2024, an increase from 8.35 million the previous year.

However, the NHS is reporting that around 150,000 more patients were seen within the four-hour target.

Figures also show that the number of people on the waiting list continued to fall in November to 7.48 million and the lowest the waiting list has been since May 2023.

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The data outlines the pressures on the NHS, as high cases of flu continue to strain resources this month.

There was an average of 5,408 patients a day in hospital with flu last week, including 256 in critical care. This is 3.5 times higher than the first week of January last year, which was 1,548 cases.

NHS National Medical Director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “It is clear that hospitals are under exceptional pressure at the start of this new year.

"It is hard to quantify just through the data how tough it is for frontline staff at the moment – with some staff working in A&E saying that their days at work feel like some of the days we had during the height of the pandemic."

A number of hospitals have already declared a critical incident this month due to high levels of demand for their services, which they are attributing to significant numbers of flu cases and respiratory illnesses, as well as the colder weather.

Non-urgent patients have been warned of long waits in A&E and have been urged to “consider other options," such as contacting their GP, visiting a pharmacy or calling NHS 111.

Others have reintroduced face masks to the wards as a precautionary measure.

There are concerns from health leaders that “huge” pressure in the NHS will only get worse as temperatures plummet this weekend.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its amber cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. They said a rise in deaths is likely given the continued weather warnings.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: "This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.

“These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.”

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Responding to the figures, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Despite the best efforts of staff, patients are still receiving unacceptable standards of care.

“Although this winter’s campaign vaccinated more people than last winter, this strain of flu has hit hard, putting more than three times as many patients into hospital compared to this time last year.

“Annual winter pressures should not mean an annual winter crisis... It will take time to turn the NHS around, but the fact that waiting lists are now falling shows that change is possible.”

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