Sharp rise in number of norovirus cases puts increased pressure on NHS services and staff

NHS England reveals number of bed closures due to norovirus or diarrhoea and vomiting in week ending 21 January reached 742 beds a day, up 121 beds on the previous week.

• Beds out of action rose 20% in just a week
• Bed occupancy levels remain high at 94.8%
• Signs that number of flu cases is stabilising

A spike in cases of norovirus in the week ending 21 January has put further pressure on hospitals leaving nurses with 'no choice but to close beds'.

NHS England said a marked increase in the number of reports of norovirus in recent weeks meant they were now above the five-year average for this week. Bed occupancy levels were also high, at 94.8%.

Level of flu cases appears to be stabilising

Flu has been causing a huge strain with 120 confirmed flu-related deaths so far this winter, but levels appear to now be stabilising.

Responding to the figures, RCN general secretary Janet Davies said: 'The shortage of beds is leaving the NHS sailing dangerously close to the wind. As a result thousands of new arrivals find themselves trapped for hours in the backs of queuing ambulances.

'When the NHS is under so much pressure, every single bed counts. But a sharp rise in cases of norovirus is only adding to that pressure – forcing hospitals to take over 700 beds out of action each day, up 20% in a week.'

She added: 'When norovirus strikes, nursing staff have no choice but to close beds and work flat out to stop the spread of infection. Patients can play their part by informing staff on arrival if they have any symptoms, while friends and family should not visit patients if they fear they may bring the virus through the hospital doors.'

NHS staff 'anxious and depressed'

Society for Acute Medicine president Nick Scriven added that NHS staff were left 'anxious and depressed' under the strain and the service could not afford a repeat of these 'dire circumstances' again.

The figures released on 25 January show:

• There were 11,000 ambulance delays of more than 30 minutes in the week ending 21 January, down from 12,600 on the previous week.
• Of these delayed patients, 2,200 people were left waiting inside an ambulance at emergency departments for more than an hour, down from 2,600 the previous week. Patients are meant to be handed over within 15 minutes of arrival at an emergency department.

An NHS England spokesperson said: 'While levels of flu have stabilised, there has been a spike in the number of norovirus cases which continues to put pressure on busy hospitals and other front-line services.

'And while the NHS is generally coping with ongoing winter demands, the public can continue to play their part by using NHS 111 and pharmacists for advice.'

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