NHS health boss warns of spike in kids' illnesses as Christmas 'quad-demic' continues
Parents in the UK are being warned that a spike in flu cases among children is adding to pressure on hospitals causing a ‘quad-demic’ just before Christmas.
Officials have raised alarm bells, saying that hospitals are bursting at the seams as they deal with rising levels of flu, Covid-19, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - forming a perfect storm of winter illnesses.
NHS Scotland currently recommends that all eligible children should get the flu vaccine between September and December to help protect them from the illness, which can cause particularly serious complications in kids under five - such as pneumonia, dehydration, and even death, The Independent reports.
READ MORE: WASPI women could hear State Pension age change compensation update from DWP next week
READ MORE: People on Universal Credit with health issues could be due up to £1,130 each month
According to NHS figures, an average of 1,099 flu patients were in hospital each day in the week leading up to December 1, including 39 in critical care - quadruple the number at this time last year. This has led to England's hospital bed provision reaching 95 percent full.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning about the increase in flu cases, Tweeting: "Flu cases are going up - book your vaccine as soon as possible to get protected and #GetWinterStrong."
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, appeared on BBC Breakfast to explain how the situation was impacting healthcare teams, saying: “Quad-demic – it’s an awful word, but it does mean that we’ve got four different viruses running around at the moment."
She went on to explain that the viruses in question are flu, Covid, norovirus and RSV.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs, causing cold-like symptoms. Norovirus, also called the "winter vomiting bug", is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
Ms Cordery said that the four viruses are putting additional pressure on the NHS - including GP services and also busy A&E departments - at a time of year when they are traditionally already stretched.
She also pointed out that NHS staff themselves are also at risk of contacting the illnesses in question. If so, they have to stay off work, further increasing the difficulty and strains placed on the frontlines of the health service.
She finished by issuing a specific warning to parents, explaining: “We’ve seen a real rise in, a spike in, the number of children who are suffering from flu in particular, and often that’s a predictor of a later wave coming in adults," warning that the winter ahead would be a challenging one for the health service as a result.
People who are entitled to a free flu jab are being urged to get their vaccination as soon as possible, with the NHS booking system due to close in around two weeks. Public Health Scotland have more info about who is eligible here.
Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
