NHS England medical director Prof Sir Stephen Powis said: "The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning for patients and for the N

The boss of NHS England is urging people to get vaccinated before Christmas to protect against serious illness and "festive flu".

UK hospitals are bracing for a barrage of patients infected with flu, norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and coronavirus during winter.

NHS leaders have warned that hospitals are bracing for a so-called “quad-demic” of disease over the winter months, with an increase in cases of flu, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and expected increases in Covid-19.

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A "tidal wave" of flu infections has led to a 70% increase in hospital cases in England in just seven days. An average of 1,861 flu patients were in hospitals in England each day last week, including 66 in critical care beds, NHS figures show.

An average of 1,861 patients suffering from the flu were in hospital each day last week, compared with 1,099 in the previous seven day period, according to NHS data published on Thursday. The number of flu patients in critical care beds in England increased from 39 to 66 over the same period and the health service is urging those eligible for a jab to get themselves vaccinated to avoid “festive flu”.

NHS England has warned services “tidal wave” of infections and are bracing for a “quad-demic” of bugs this winter, with the increase in cases of flu, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and expected increases of Covid-19.

The boss of NHS England has urged Brits to get vaccinated before Christmas with cases of ‘festive flu’ on the rise. Cases of Flu, norovirus (the winter vomiting bug) and RSV (a common cold and cough) have significantly risen in the UK this winter.

NHS England has warned of a “tidal wave of flu hitting hospitals” as the number of hospital beds occupied by patients with flu surged by 70% in a week. A&Es had their busiest November on record, with doctors seeing 2.