Hospital and ambulance chiefs are urging New Year revellers to stay safe as the NHS struggles with crippling demand.
While millions are expected to be out celebrating, figures show hospital flu cases are up more than seven-fold and Covid is still rife.
Health chiefs fear this Bank Holiday weekend will be the busiest, as A&Es prepare for a flood of booze-related injuries.
West Suffolk Hospital bosses have urged the public to make “the right choices” on Saturday night.
The North East Ambulance Service appealed for people to use the emergency services “wisely”.
Assistant Director of Operations Judith Bryce said: “The number of life-threatening ‘Red’ calls we’ve had in the last seven days was 62% higher than the same period last year, while demand on our 111 service has more than doubled.”
Last week, there were 3,746 hospital flu cases a day compared to 520 in November.
Royal College of Nursing Director for England Patricia Marquis said: “The NHS is buckling before our eyes.”
Patients have told of their ordeals in crowded A&Es.
On Boxing Day, a 78-year-old man spent two days on a trolley in a corridor at Royal Liverpool Hospital waiting for a bed.
Paul Ireland, 63, of Burnley, Lancs, had to drive his mum, 94, 15 miles to a hospital after a fall, as their A&E closed in 2007.
He said: “The corridors were full of people on trolleys waiting for beds. It was a nightmare.”
In Devon, a daughter told how her 84-year-old mum spent eight hours in an ambulance outside Torbay Hospital with a chest infection as it was too busy to let her in.
The woman said: “It’s absolute bedlam.”
Doncaster and Bassetlaw hospital posted pictures of around 16 ambulances parked and waiting outside its A&E.
At least 10 Trusts recently declared critical incidents.
