Latest figures show more than 200 hospital beds a day were being occupied by flu patients at hospitals in Birmingham last week
19:44, 11 Dec 2025Updated 19:45, 11 Dec 2025
A map shows the areas where the most patients have been hospitalised with flu
Birmingham is now the ‘worst affected’ area for the so-called superflu, according to a new update from the NHS.
Hospitals are said to be overwhelmed by flu patients, with cases rocketing in some parts of England.
Latest figures show more than 200 hospital beds a day (217) were being occupied by flu patients at hospitals in Birmingham last week.
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That’s up from 147 a day a week earlier. NHS England has said this the a record number for this time of year and described it as a ‘unprecedented situation’.
Meanwhile, hospitals in Manchester had an average of over 100 beds a day being taken up by flu patients. It’s the second highest number of anywhere in England.
In East London an average of 85 beds a day were being taken up by flu patients last week, while in Stoke on Trent it was 83 beds, in Sheffield 72 beds and in Leeds 64 beds.
The figures below have been published by NHS England and include the average number of flu patients per day in the week ending December 7, 2025
Full list of NHS England Hospitals with the most flu patients:Birmingham (University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust) – 217 bedsManchester (Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust) – 109 bedsEast London (Barts Health NHS Trust) – 85 bedsStoke on Trent (University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust) – 83 bedsSheffield (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) – 72 bedsLeeds (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) – 65 bedsDarlington (County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust) – 50 bedsNorth Tyneside (Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust) – 46 bedsNorth London (Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust) – 45 bedsCamberley (Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust) – 45 bedsCoventry (University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust) – 44 bedsHuddersfield (Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust) – 45 bedsGrimsby (Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust) – 45 bedsWakefield (Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust) – 43 bedsLeicester (University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust) – 42 bedsBlackpool (Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) – 43 bedsSE London (King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) – 41 bedsLuton (Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) – 41 bedsDartford (Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust) – 40 bedsHartlepool (North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust) – 38 beds
Flu hospitalisations across England have increased by more than half in just one week, plunging the NHS into a what it calls a “worst case scenario” situation for December.
An average of 2,660 patients per day were in a hospital bed with flu last week – the highest ever for this time of year and up 55 per cent up on last week.
It means there are enough flu patients each day to fill more than three whole hospital trusts.
NHS chiefs have warned the total has already increased sharply since the week covered by the data, with no peak in sight.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS National Medical Director, said: “With record demand for A&E and ambulances and an impending resident doctors strike, this unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year – with staff being pushed to the limit to keep providing the best possible care for patients.
“The numbers of patients in hospital with flu is extremely high for this time of year.
The NHS has issued a statement regarding the number of flu hospitalisations over the last week(Image: E+/ getty images)
“Even worse, it continues to rise and the peak is not in sight yet, so the NHS faces an extremely challenging few weeks ahead.”
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting added: “There is a tidal wave of flu tearing through our hospitals.
“We are working with the NHS to make sure it is able to cope with this as best as possible, including already getting over 17 million patients vaccinated, 170,000 more than this time last year, with over 60,000 more NHS staff also getting their jab.
“We have recruited 2,500 more GPs and modernised GP appointment booking, keeping patients cared for in the community and out of hospital.
“The offer I have made to the BMA would help solve the jobs problem resident doctors are facing, and bring an end to strike action this Christmas, which is the most dangerous time of year. I urge resident doctors not to inflict further damage on the NHS, vote for this deal, and call off the Christmas strikes.”