Liverpool hospital declares critical incident as flu cases soar

The Royal Liverpool University Hospital has declared a critical incident over an “exceptionally high” demand on A&E amid soaring flu cases.

The hospital said staff are “working incredibly hard” to treat patients being admitted with “flu and respiratory illnesses”.

A group spokesperson said: “We have a comprehensive plan in place and are taking all the necessary actions to manage the challenging circumstances facing patients and colleagues currently.

“We are working with partner organisations to ensure those that are medically fit can leave hospital safely and at the earliest opportunity. Colleagues are working incredibly hard to treat people as quickly as possible, however, some people will experience longer waits while we treat our sickest patients.”

Officials have said the number of people in hospital with flu in England is rising at a “very concerning rate” and is more than four times the level it was a month ago.

A critical incident is something that can be declared by an NHS trust facing extraordinary pressure and tells staff, bosses and patients the hospital will not be able to function as usual. Patents are usually told only to attend in a life-threatening emergency.

In extreme cases a trust can declare a black alert, which usually means hospitals have to divert patients elsewhere to receive emergency care.

A surge in flu cases over the last few weeks, combined with patients suffering from Covid, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), have put even more pressure on hospitals earlier this winter.

Latest figures from NHS England show an average of 4,469 flu patients were in beds in England each day last week, including 211 in critical care. This is up 17 per cent from 3,818 the previous week, when 184 were in critical care and is more than four times the number on December 1, when the figure was 1,098.

When comparing to last winter, the average number of flu patients in hospital in England each day last week is up sharply on the equivalent week last year when the average was 1,312. However, it is lower than this point two years ago, when the figure stood at 5,441.

The admission rate for flu patients stood at 14.1 per 100,000 people last week, up from 10.7 the previous week and the highest level so far this season. Rates are currently highest among people aged 85 and over, at 88.4 per 100,000, followed by 75-84 year-olds (47.6 per 100,000) and children aged four and under (26.1 per 100,000).

A critical incident in Cornwall remains in place four days after it was declared due to a period of “sustained pressure” on services. Local NHS bosses said peole in the county should go to pharmacies, GP practices and minor injury units for non-serious illnesses to keep hospitals available for those who need it most.

Tamsyn Anderson, chief operating officer for Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said there was “high demand” at the county’s main hospital in Truro.

NHS Cornwall thanked residents for their ongoing support and said staff were “working tirelessly” to provide care. It said it had received about four times as many hospital inpatients with flu compared to this time in 2024.

The NHS advises anyone unwell with flu, norovirus, or Covid-19 to stay at home, rest and hydrate.

Meanwhile, East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) declared its first ever critical incident on Monday evening. EMAS said it has put out “more ambulance resource than ever before”.

However, the combination of significant patient demand, pressure within local hospitals, and flooding across the East Midlands, has led to this level of escalation.

A spokesperson said: “Like many across the NHS, EMAS colleagues have been working tirelessly to respond to patient need. All internal actions and options to mitigate risk have been exhausted; therefore, a critical incident has been called to ensure mutual aid to support delivery of emergency and urgent patient care.”