Fears Flu Will Cause Thousands of Deaths Following Doctors' Strike
Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, has issued a warning about a severe flu season expected to coincide with the NHS recovering from a recent five-day strike by resident doctors. The NHS is preparing for its most challenging winter ever, as an early flu outbreak threatens to claim thousands of lives.
This situation threatens to complicate recovery efforts, with hospitals anticipated to operate at full capacity from December through March.
NHS Issues Urgent Call for Flu Vaccinations
The NHS has launched a flu vaccination appeal, urging people to get their jabs next week to ensure protection before the flu wave intensifies later this month.
This warning follows Australia's largest recorded flu season, often considered a reliable indicator for what the UK might face.
Rising Hospital Admissions Signal Early Flu Surge
Hospital admissions due to flu in England increased sharply by 60% in just one week, rising from 251 to 422 cases. This rate, unusual for early November, typically occurs at the start of December.
Health officials caution that many vulnerable individuals might not realize they qualify for a vaccine, as only 28.9% of people with long-term health conditions have received the flu jab this year.
Flu Deaths More Than Double in England
New analysis reveals that flu-related fatalities in England more than doubled last year, reaching 7,757 deaths compared to 3,555 the previous year.
Summary
The NHS is facing a severe flu season immediately after a doctors' strike, with early signs indicating a surge in cases and deaths, prompting urgent vaccination efforts to mitigate impact.
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