As the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) continues to deal with a heavy wave of winter illnesses, Britain’s chief medic has urged anyone experiencing symptoms of norovirus to stay isolated for at least two days to help stop the spread.
This advice comes as the NHS grapples with a second wave of norovirus infections, alongside rising cases of COVID-19, flu, and severe respiratory infections in children.
Rising Infection Rates and Increased Pressure on the NHS
New data reveals troubling trends: COVID-19 cases are on the rise, and flu as well as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) continue to affect children at alarming rates.
The situation is further compounded by nearly 50,000 NHS staff calling in sick each day, nearly 10% more than this time last year.
This surge in infections is placing significant pressure on the NHS, already struggling to cope with high hospital occupancy levels and the seasonal health challenges.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, warned that despite the warmer weather, winter’s challenges are far from over.
As he prepares to step down, he emphasized the importance of hand hygiene and staying away from others while symptomatic to prevent further spread of norovirus, which often brings with it nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain, among other flu-like symptoms.
The Surge in Norovirus Cases
According to figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there were 1,094 patients hospitalized each day last week due to norovirus, a number more than double that seen during the same period last year.
Experts suggest that a more transmissible variant now makes up nearly 70% of all norovirus cases, contributing to the increased spread.
Since the beginning of the 2024/2025 season, the number of norovirus outbreaks reported in hospital settings has risen by 26% compared to the five-year average.
This surge has had a significant impact on hospital operations, with 40,000 bed days lost last month alone due to the virus.
To contain the outbreak, nearly 300 hospital beds had to be closed, adding to the strain on the healthcare system.
Hospital Occupancy and Delayed Discharges
The ongoing surge in illnesses has led to a sharp increase in hospital admissions, with almost 96% of hospital beds occupied.
A concerning statistic reveals that almost 1 in 7 of those beds are occupied by patients who no longer require care, mainly due to delays in discharging patients.
This bottleneck is causing further delays and exacerbating pressures on the system.
Government Response and NHS Staff Appreciation
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting expressed his gratitude to NHS staff for their “tireless work” in the face of these challenges.
While acknowledging slight improvements in some areas, he emphasized that the NHS remains under immense strain.
In an effort to ease the burden, over 29 million vaccinations have been delivered this season, and the government has worked to end damaging strikes, ensuring that doctors stay on the front line of care rather than in disputes.
As the NHS continues to battle multiple health threats, the cooperation of the public in following health guidelines will be essential in helping to ease the burden on healthcare workers and systems.