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Hospitals in England are “close to full” – with a major variety of beds occupied by sufferers who’re properly sufficient to be discharged, NHS officers have warned.
The strain comes as medics take care of a pointy rise in individuals affected by the winter vomiting bug norovirus.
NHS England mentioned that 96% of grownup beds had been crammed, with 98,101 sufferers in hospital, every single day final week on common – the best this winter to date.
Some 961 beds had been occupied every day on common by individuals experiencing signs of the abdomen bug, which embody vomiting and diarrhoea.
The determine was up 7% from the week earlier than and 69% increased than the identical time final 12 months.
Amy Douglas, an epidemiologist on the UK Health Security Agency, mentioned norovirus instances had been “way above what we would usually see at this time of year and outbreaks in hospitals continue to rise”.
She urged members of the general public with signs to remain at dwelling, and to particularly keep away from visiting individuals in hospitals and care properties to stop passing the an infection on.
The restoration interval for the bug is often round two days and sufferers can often take care of themselves at dwelling.
However, these with weakened immune methods – together with younger youngsters and the aged – threat extra critical, and extended, signs.
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Ms Douglas added: “Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others in that time either. This is because you can still pass on the virus in the days after you stop being sick.”
Latest NHS England figures, revealed on Thursday, additionally revealed that a median of 13,776 beds per day final week had been occupied by those that had been properly sufficient to be discharged, which was additionally a report excessive for the season.
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Professor Julian Redhead, NHS England’s nationwide medical director for pressing and emergency care, mentioned the speed of norovirus instances was on the highest degree recorded for this time of 12 months since 2020.
He added: “The twin pressures of winter viruses and problems discharging patients means hospitals are close to full – even as more beds have been opened to manage the increased demand.”
However, the NHS figures additionally revealed that flu charges had dropped for the fourth week in a row.
Last week, there was a median of two,461 flu sufferers staying in hospital every day, together with 122 receiving crucial care.
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