England’s norovirus hotspots were today laid bare with figures revealing how rates of the vomiting bug are 5-times higher in some areas than others.
The North East and Yorkshire has been hit hardest by the virus with over 2,500 hospital beds in total occupied last week — 5.1 times the level recorded in the East of England.
It comes as the concerning data, released today, also showed norovirus cases in England have once again soared to the highest level seen in hospital this winter.
Rates of the bug, which can also cause diarrhoea, are up 69 per cent on the same time last year nationwide.
Over 960 patients a day were in hospital in England with norovirus last week, up on the 898 in the previous week.
Officials said ‘pressure on hospitals remain incredibly high’ and urged Brits to keep frequently washing their hands to thwart transmission of the highly contagious virus.
The majority of people will not need to speak to a doctor about a norovirus infection. In most cases, it will clear up on its own.
But for those who are more vulnerable — typically the elderly, young and immunocompromised — it could lead to dehydration, resulting in hospitalisation.
According to the weekly NHS data, a total of 2,575 hospital beds in the North East and Yorkshire were either taken up because of diarrhoea, vomiting and norovirus-like symptoms.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reported the highest number of beds occupied within the region, at 584 in total last week.
This was followed by York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust with 389 and 339 respectively.
The Midlands, meanwhile, recorded a total of 1,940 beds occupied.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (403) and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (356) accounted for over a third of all cases in the region with 759 cases combined.
In the South West, a total of 1,555 beds were occupied, with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust accounting for a third alone (563).
The North West and South East of England reported a total of 993 and 935 beds in total.
By contrast, London and the East of England recorded 516 and 501 over the week.
According to the weekly NHS data, a total of 2,575 hospital beds in the North East and Yorkshire were either taken up because of diarrhoea, vomiting and norovirus-like symptoms
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care said: ‘Hospitals are continuing to treat hundreds of patients who are ill with the highly infectious and unpleasant norovirus bug, with the rate of cases at the highest level recorded for this time of year since 2020.
‘The twin pressures of winter viruses and problems discharging patients means hospitals are close to full — even as more beds have been opened to manage the increased demand.
‘While pressures on hospitals remains incredibly high, it’s vital people continue to use NHS services in the normal way — using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attend A&E in life-threatening emergencies.’
UK Health Security Agency epidemiologist, Amy Douglas, added: ‘Norovirus cases are way above what we would usually see at this time of year and outbreaks in hospitals continue to rise.
‘Just because you’ve had norovirus doesn’t mean you won’t get it again.
‘It’s really important that if you have diarrhoea and vomiting, you take steps to avoid passing the infection on.
‘Please avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings.
‘Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others in that time either.
‘This is because you can still pass on the virus in the days after you stop being sick.’
She said: ‘Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also help stop infections from spreading.
‘Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus so don’t rely on these alone.
‘Norovirus infections can cause dehydration, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children and older or immunocompromised people, so if you do get ill it is important to drink plenty of fluids during that time.’
It has been estimated that for every case of norovirus reported to national surveillance in the UK, there are roughly 288 in the community that go unreported.
The bug is usually spread through close contact with someone who is infected, or by touching surfaces or objects, or eating food someone infected has touched.
Most of those infected suffer nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting and recover at home.
But norovirus can also pile pressures on hospitals because infected patients need to be isolated in single rooms or wards need to be closed to new patients to contain the spread.
Rest and having lots of fluid are often recommended by health chiefs to help recover. Paracetamol may also aid a fever or aches and pains.
Many patients also ask doctors for antibiotics, but these are ineffective against viruses.
The weekly NHS data also showed that the NHS remains alarmingly close to capacity with 96 per cent of adult hospital beds occupied.
92 per cent is the point at which, experts say, performance of staff drops.
There was an average of 98,101 patients in hospital each day last week — higher than at any point so far this winter.
Almost one in seven (13,776) were taken up by patients who were medically fit to be discharged.
But surveillance data that monitors England’s flu outbreak, suggests hospital admissions have fallen once again, for the fourth week in a row.
An average of 2,462 patients were in hospital with flu last week, including 122 in critical care.
Almost 1,000 beds were also occupied by patients with Covid.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
