NHS England figures from 2022 to 2026 shows flu cases are way below last years peak – but bosses warn nationally the worst is far from over
The Royal Victoria Infirmary hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne.(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
Figures released from NHS England reveal that despite fears of surging flu cases before Christmas, levels in the North East have stabilised. The 2025/26 flu season began sooner than recent years, with a recorded number of 110 patients hospitalised on November 25 in the North East, higher than the last four years prior.
NHS bosses warned in mid December that the situation was on track for the “worst case scenario” for the month, as flu hospitalisations surged by more than half in just one week. Speaking at the time, Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers which represents NHS trusts, said the country was seeing a “very nasty strain of flu” that had occurred earlier in the year than normal.
Data from five NHS trusts: County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, show the spike peaked December 12, when 276 people were hospitalised with Flu.
108 of those cases reported were within County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust hospitals alone. A further 57 accounted for Northumbria Healthcare, 58 South Tyneside and Sunderland and 43 Newcastle, with Gateshead recording none.
Just days later on December 15, a similar number of 270 cases were reported, marking a jump of nearly 50% to the week prior when an average of 162 patients a day were in hospital beds with flu on December 4.
The spike was the second highest recorded number of cases the North East has seen in recent years, after a total number of 367 patients were in North East hospitals on December 16, 2024.
Graph shows the number of patents in the North East hospitalised with flu over winter 2025/26 has stabilised compared to past years (Image: Flourish / ChronicleLive)
Following Christmas and New Year gatherings potentially impacting rising numbers, NHS bosses warned again last week ‘the worst is far from over’.
NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit said: “It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter, with hospitals again experiencing a rise in patients admitted with flu and other respiratory virus cases last week.
“The cold weather also means we are also seeing more vulnerable patients with respiratory problems in A&E and more injuries from slips and falls due to the icy conditions, so it remains an extremely busy time.
“Staff continue to work incredibly hard and we are seeing teams across the country pulling out all the stops to ensure patients get the care they need. It remains important that people come forward for care as usual and there are still plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated and get protected against flu.”
But considering the growing fears of super-flu surges – and a 9% increase in the number of patients in hospital beds with flu nationally in the previous week – the number of North East cases has instead begun to stabilise and steadily decrease.
Total number of flu beds occupied by patients in North East NHS Foundation Trusts over winter 2022/23 – 2025/26(Image: Flourish / ChronicleLive)
The latest figures from the week ending January 4 2026 reveal that 192 patients were hospitalised in the North East, across both general and critical care beds, an average of 192 for the week.
This is also a significant reduction to year priors. During winter 2024/25, cases continued to grow with 393 patients hospitalised by January 4. Whilst in 2022/23 a dramatic spike following the New Year saw cases peak at 499 on January 2. The latest figure is the lowest since the 2023/44 season, when only 53 cases were reported.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting said: “While the NHS is better prepared and performing more strongly than this time last year thanks to the tireless work of staff, the current cold snap is putting fresh pressure on frontline services.
“Flu can be serious, particularly for older people, young children and those with underlying conditions, and vaccination remains the best protection. I urge everyone who is eligible to get their flu jab as soon as possible.”
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