With the drop in temperatures in the UK, cases of respiratory infections such as influenza have surged, prompting major hospitals across various parts of England to declare a 'critical incident' recently.
UK media, citing information from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, reported that the hospital has seen a surge in emergency and in-patient cases of respiratory diseases in recent weeks, leading to the declaration of a 'critical incident'.
Reports indicate that, apart from Liverpool, major hospitals in areas such as Hampshire, Plymouth, and Birmingham under the National Health Service (NHS) have also declared 'critical incidents'.
Data released by the NHS shows that on December 29, 2024, hospitals in England admitted 5,074 influenza patients, approximately four times the number at the end of November.
In the week starting December 29, hospitals in England admitted an average of 4,469 flu patients daily, roughly 3.5 times the daily average for the same period last year.
In the UK, hospitals facing staffing issues due to a sudden surge in demand or other serious problems can declare a 'critical incident'. This indicates that hospitals cannot operate as usual and are unable to take additional measures to protect patients, except to prioritize the most severe cases. In this situation, hospitals advise patients with non-urgent needs to visit general practitioners or pharmacies for assistance.