FEARS OF WORST FLU WAVE TO STRIKE NHS THIS WINTER

Experts urge people to get jabs after 'unprecedented' early surge in cases

- BEN BORLAND AND HANNAH GEISSLER

FLU cases in Scotland have more than doubled in a week, with hospital admissions rising 70%.

Alarming statistics yesterday showed that laboratory-confirmed influenza cases between November 24 and 30 rose from 845 to 1,759.

Scottish hospital admissions due to this year's virulent strain increased 70% from 426 to 724.

At Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, one in 35 beds are filled with influenza patients. Across NHS Grampian, there are 560% more people in hospital with the virus than at the same time last year.

South of the Border, NHS England's chief executive told a board meeting the number of hospital beds occupied due to flu could increase by five or even eight-fold next week.

An average of 1,171 flu sufferers were on wards in England last week 56% higher than at the same point in 2024, and 10 times higher than in 2023.

Professor Julian Redhead, who is in charge of emergency care down south, said the latest figures "confirm our deepest concerns: the health service is bracing for an unprecedented flu wave".