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<\/p>\nLondon\u2019s hospitals are \u2018facing an unprecedented flu wave this winter\u2019 according to specialists<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hospital treatment: admissions for flu this winter are three times higher than this time last year<\/p>\n
The NHS in London has issued another public appeal for people to get vaccinated, as the number of hospital admissions in the past few weeks has exceeded all recent records.<\/p>\n
Across the country, some schools have been forced to close, as what has been described as a \u201cmutant\u201d strain of flu has spread rapidly among children, seeing hundreds of pupils off sick at a time.<\/p>\n
Hospitalisations in London due to the flu virus have tripled compared to the same time last year.<\/p>\n
Every day, an average of 259 patients took up a London hospital bed last week (beginning November 24) because of flu. With flu cases at a record high and no peak yet in sight, London\u2019s NHS system is facing an unprecedented flu wave this winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cEligible Londoners should get their flu jab as a matter of urgency,\u201d NHS London said today.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-08-at-15-06-54-NHS-braces-for-\u2018unprecedented-flu-wave-as-hospitalised-cases-in-En.png\")
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Worrying signs: this year\u2019s flu cases (red line to the left of this graphic) are far worse than in previous years<\/p>\n
Dr Chris Streather, Chief Medical Director for the NHS in London, said: \u201cThe NHS has prepared earlier for winter than ever before, but despite this, we know that surging flu cases will put pressure on services in the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NHS is also having to cope with industrial action taken by resident doctors.<\/p>\n
Streather said: \u201cWhile we\u2019ve vaccinated more than 1.8million people this season, there are still vulnerable people who haven\u2019t come forward. If you\u2019re in one of the eligible groups and you haven\u2019t had your flu vaccine yet, I urge you to come forward as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
How to access flu vaccinations and medical care<\/p>\n
Pharmacies: Quick support for common conditions including sore throat, sinusitis, earache and prescription-only medicines
\nOnline GP services: 98.7% of GP practices offer online consultation requests (8million used in October)
Urgent Treatment Centres: Expanded network across England for non-emergency care
\nNHS 111: Available online and by phone to direct patients to appropriate care
A&E and 999 calls: For life-threatening conditions and serious injuries<\/p>\n
Getting vaccinated has been easier than ever this year, with accessible vaccine pop-up events at football matches, soft play areas and shopping centres, and community pharmacies stepping up to provide more than half a million walk-in jab appointments.<\/p>\n
You can check whether you are eligible for a flu jab by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n And you can find pharmacies for walk-in appointments by using the\u202fNHS walk-in finder by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n Across England, according to official figures, an average of 1,717 flu patients were in beds each day last week \u2013 more than 50% higher than last year \u2013 including 69 patients whose condition was critical.<\/p>\n Prof Julian Redhead, the national director for urgent and emergency care, said the figures confirmed the NHS\u2019s \u201cdeepest concerns\u201d that the health service was bracing for an unprecedented flu wave this winter, with cases \u201cincredibly high for this time of year and there is no peak in sight yet\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe NHS has prepared earlier for winter than ever before, but despite that we know that ballooning flu cases coinciding with strikes may stretch our staff close to breaking point in the coming weeks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n A D V E R T I S E M E N T<\/p>\n PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com<\/a> for our unbeatable ad rates<\/p>\n If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents\u2019 association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MyT-banner-ad-October-2025.png\")
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