NHS still under 'enormous pressure' but flu cases are now stabilising

HOSPITALS are "nowhere near out of the woods yet" as flu cases remain at record levels for this time of year, health officials have said.

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The figures were revealed as resident doctors in England have entered the third day of strike action due to a bitter dispute with the Government over jobs and pay.

Officials said that the combination of strikes and rising flu levels mean hospitals remain on "high alert".

New figures from the NHS show that the number of people in hospital in England with flu continues to rise and remains at a record level for this time of year, though the rate of growth has slowed.

But the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that flu levels are "now starting to stabilise".

An average of 3,140 flu patients were in hospital each day last week, up 18% from 2,660 the previous week.