Hospitals braced for a busy time as 'superflu' patient numbers rise

CHALLENGING TIMES AS STRAIN OF VIRUS DUBBED UNLIKE ANY SINCE PANDEMIC

- BY JAMIE WALLER Local Democracy Reporter

LINCOLNSHIRE hospitals say they're seeing more flu patients as NHS England warns it's facing a "worst case scenario".

A particularly bad strain of flu is taking up hundreds more hospital beds than usual nationally, with fears that it could hit 5,000 beds this week.

The flu virus mutates each year, and public health experts say this year's strain is likely to be the most contagious for some time. Health Secretary Wes Streeting described it as a challenge "unlike any since the pandemic".

Anyone attending Lincoln or Boston hospitals is being asked to wear a face mask upon entry and in some high-risk areas.