The number of people in hospital with norovirus has risen for the fourth week in a row and around 1,100 hospital beds are either occupied with a patient suffering from the virus or it is out of bounds for infection control.
An average of 950 patients are in hospital with sickness and diarrhoea, this number is up 15% compared to the week before.
The patients are mainly elderly and have severe dehydration amid the sickness, diarrhoea and vomiting.
The NHS is recommending people to frequently wash their hands with soap and water to prevent norovirus from spreading.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England’s medical director and its top doctor, said, “Seasonal viruses continue to cause disruption and take up hospital beds, with cases of the winter vomiting bug triple what they were at the start of the month.
“You can prevent the spread of norovirus by frequent handwashing with soap and water and not returning to work, school or visiting hospitals until you are 48 hours symptom-free.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said, “This winter has pushed the NHS hard, but staff are delivering.
“Ambulances are handing over faster, delays are coming down and flu is taking up fewer hospital beds than last year, even with demand running at near-record levels. That’s real progress, driven by the dedication of frontline staff and better preparation than ever before.
“Winter pressures haven’t gone away, but the NHS is meeting them head on. If you’re eligible, get vaccinated, follow public health advice and help us keep the service there for everyone who needs it.”
