The NHS is still facing huge pressure at A&Es and in the ambulance service, health bosses have warned.
Dr Neil O'Brien - executive medical director for the NHS's North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board - highlighted that, rising flu and Covid-19 admissions were playing a role in "extreme pressures" across the health service. He said that flu was now causing a "worrying number" of patients to be taken to hospital.
The NHS in our region is continuing to advise patients to only call 999 or visit A&E if there is a "threat to life or limb". Though keen not to discourage those who do need emergency help from coming forward, the health service is telling those suffering from "an everyday illness or injury" to use other services such as pharmacists and the NHS website for advice.
Dr O'Brien said: "In common with the health and care system across the country, our A&E and ambulance services are under huge pressure. We are working hard to ensure that patients who need emergency care are seen as quickly as possible and are prioritising patient care as best we can based on their need.
"The risk of serious illness and hospitalisation from catching flu is very real. Hospitals and critical care units across our region are currently seeing a worrying number of patients being admitted due to the flu virus."
Figures from NHS England last week, highlighted how around the UK there had been a sevenfold increase in admissions to hospital with the flu. Across December, more than 3,400 people a day were being admitted.
As such, Dr O'Brien continued the NHS push to get as many people protected from flu as possible. He said: "It's not too late to have your flu jab and doing so will protect against severe illness and hospitalisation. Young children who are not likely to have come across the flu virus before, and could therefore become much more unwell, can be protected with a free flu nasal spray that is available for all children aged 2 & 3 from your local GP practice."
The Government has blamed high numbers of flu cases, Covid-19 and Strep A fears for the particular pressures the NHS faced over Christmas, even as health leaders have warned that the problems are longstanding and cannot solely be pinned on the pandemic.
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