South West NHS bosses urge people to get vaccinated as hospitals hit by flu 'tidal wave'
ITV News' Louisa Britton spoke to the NHS bosses urging people to get vaccinated.
NHS bosses in the South West have said hospitals are being hit by a "tidal wave" of flu and other winter viruses, and are urging people to get vaccinated before Christmas.
The latest figures from NHS England showed an average of nearly 1,900 people in hospitals across England with flu every day during the first week of December - up 70% on the week before.
That's more than four times the figure at this point last year, with hospital leaders warning they are facing "immense pressure".
Doctors said Covid, RSV and norovirus are also a "real concern".
"We've got significant rates of Covid. We've got significant rates of flu and other respiratory viruses," explained Dr Michael Marsh, South West regional medical director for NHS England.
"There's a real concern that a combination of all those difficult infections could produce a really big impact both on the NHS, but more importantly on people who might get more than one infection".
NHS bosses in the South West are asking patients' families and friends to do more to support them so they can be discharged and returned home.
"Our hospitals will be functioning at 100% - one in, one out," Gill May, chief nurse for Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire integrated care board said.
"You need to get the same number of people that come in and out, and at least add on top of that to give that headroom in between because it's just under far too much pressure".
"It's immense pressure, and we're seeing it on all fronts," she added.
Ade Williams, a Bristol-based pharmacist, said he has seen fewer people stepping forward for their winter flu vaccine this year.
He said: "We know that many people in the population may have thought maybe that they've had previous vaccinations and there's no need to have an updated one, for either the flu or Covid. The danger is that people are very complacent."
Rob Skornia, a pharmacist based in Okehampton, said he believed an element of "vaccine fatigue" was to blame.
He said: "We've had a lot of vaccines over the last few years with Covid. I think people have also decided to not have their flu vaccines.
"And given that the hospitals are really under strain right now, this is an extra workload that really could be avoided.
"You could really be saving the NHS by having your vaccine. You don't want to ruin Christmas for yourself or for your family.
"It's really important that you have your vaccine and have it as soon as possible because that gives you the best chance of immunity leading into Christmas."
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has also urged people eligible for free vaccinations on the NHS to take them “before it's too late".
He said: "With A&Es facing record demand, we are continuing to encourage people to protect themselves, their family, and the NHS by getting vaccinated before it’s too late".