Child intensive care cases rise as superflu floods wards

The number of children admitted to intensive care beds is on the rise as flu admissions to hospitals reach a record for this time of year.

- REBECCA THOMAS HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

Health officials have said hospitals are “nowhere near out of the woods yet” as data show a record number of patients admitted for the flu at this time of year, although the rate of growth has slowed.

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

Data shows an average of 316 children’s critical care beds were filled each day last week, slightly up from 311 the week prior and up from 293 at the end of November. Meanwhile, an average of 3,140 flu patients were in hospital each day last week, up 18 per cent from 2,660 the previous week.

At this point last year, the number stood at 2,629 patients, while in 2023 it was just 648. Weekly flu numbers in England peaked at 5,408 patients last winter and reached 5,441 over the winter of 2022-23, the highest level since the pandemic.