Norovirus grips NHS as beds continue to be taken up by medically fit people
An average of 41% of patients ready to leave hospital last week were discharged each day, according to data from NHS England.
The number of hospital beds taken up by people who are fit to be discharged is at its highest level this winter, while the vomiting bug norovirus is also gripping NHS wards.
New data from NHS England shows an average of 13,710 hospital beds per day were filled last week by patients who were medically fit to leave – up from 13,585 the previous week and the highest number so far this winter.
On average, 41% of patients ready to leave hospital last week were discharged each day, down slightly week-on-week from 42%.
Delayed discharges occur when social care, support or accommodation is not yet in place yet for patients to be transferred into the community.
Norovirus cases in hospitals surged in the last week, although levels are still below last month.
An average of 784 hospital beds in England were filled each day last week by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, up 21% from 650 the previous week, but below levels seen last month when the average reached 837.
Norovirus levels remain higher than at this point 12 months ago, when an average of 438 beds were filled with patients with symptoms, and also two years ago (373 patients).
The number of people in hospital with flu in England has fallen for the second week in a row, to an average of 3,833 each day last week, including 176 in critical care.
This is down 22% from 4,929 the previous week, but still higher than this point last winter (1,582) and this stage two years ago (2,034).
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said: “Nasty winter bugs are still wreaking havoc on the NHS with a worrying spike in norovirus cases over the past week.
“Trust leaders will be hoping they’ve finally turned a corner on flu cases, but rates are still uncomfortably high with Covid-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) also piling on the pressure.
“While ambulance handover delays are down by a third, demand for hospital beds shows no signs of easing.
“This challenging situation is being made even trickier due to high levels of delayed discharges, with one in seven hospital beds taken up by patients who were fit to be discharged.”
NHS England said norovirus levels in hospitals are 80% higher than the same period last year, while hospitals remain busy with 96% bed occupancy.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Despite the work we did to end the strikes and roll out the new RSV vaccine, hospitals up and down the country are still facing significant pressure and patients continue to face unacceptable levels of care this winter.
“It’s welcome that flu rates are starting to decline and ambulance handovers are improving – but we’re not out of the woods yet.
“If you’re eligible, it’s not too late to get your flu vaccination – contact your local pharmacy or GP to protect yourself this winter.”
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said hospitals remain “extremely busy” with patients.
He added: “NHS hospitals have been hit by a surge in norovirus cases over the last week – with the highest level recorded in any January since 2020.”
Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation, said the NHS “is in a state of vulnerability”, with nearly 200 more patients in hospital with norovirus-like symptoms and over 3,800 patients in hospital with flu.
He said delayed discharges of medically fit people are rising, adding: “When this happens, bottlenecks can occur with patients queuing up at the front doors of hospitals while others are unable to be discharged out the back doors of hospitals.
“NHS leaders and their teams have been kept with their noses pressed to the grindstone as they deliver vital care and support to patients deep into winter.
“But it’s clear as day that the NHS remains under considerable strain with the ripple effect of pressures from winter viruses still being felt across all parts of the system, including primary care.
“We are not over the hill yet and will need to keep an eye on how much pressure hospitals and other parts of the system are under, particularly with the weather warnings in some parts of the country this weekend.”
The Royal College of Nursing’s executive director for England, Patricia Marquis, said: “Despite falling flu cases, there is no sign of pressures letting up for nursing staff having to deliver care in corridors and other inappropriate spaces.
“Rising rates of norovirus are making a bad situation an increasingly dangerous one.
“We still don’t know how many patients are being cared for in these conditions and the Government needs to be open with the public about the scale of the challenge.”
