NHS Faces Unprecedented Early Flu Surge as Hospital Pressures Mount
The NHS is grappling with an unusually severe and early flu season, with latest data revealing hospital admissions for influenza at unprecedented levels for this time of year. The surge comes as delayed discharges continue to rise, presenting significant challenges for care home providers and community health services.
According to NHS England’s urgent and emergency care daily situation reports, an average of 1,717 patients occupied hospital beds due to flu every day last week—the highest figure ever recorded for early December. This represents a more than sevenfold increase compared to the same week in 2023/24, when just 243 patients were hospitalised with influenza, and a 56% rise from last year’s figure of 1,098.
Despite the dramatic spike in flu cases, overall virus-related hospital pressures have actually decreased compared to last year. Last week saw 2,943 adult and paediatric beds either closed or occupied due to Covid-19, flu, norovirus and paediatric RSV combined, down from 3,546 during the same period in 2024. This improvement is primarily attributed to lower levels of norovirus and Covid-19 infections.
However, delayed discharges remain a persistent concern with direct implications for the care sector. The data shows 13,232 hospital beds were occupied daily by patients who no longer met the criteria to remain in hospital—an increase from 11,969 the previous year. These delays are frequently caused by insufficient availability of follow-up social or community care, highlighting the critical role care homes and community services play in maintaining hospital flow.
There was more positive news regarding ambulance handover times, with 29.7% of delays exceeding 30 minutes last week, compared to 36.1% in 2024. Similarly, the proportion of handovers taking longer than an hour dropped from 16.4% to 10.0%—a significant improvement despite increased overall demand.
Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, warned that the early and intense flu season is compounding pressures on services that have already experienced one of their busiest summers on record.
“NHS service leaders are doing all they can to ensure all patients are kept safe and receive the care they need,” Mr Deighton said. He noted that whilst improved ambulance handover times were welcome, the combination of higher delayed discharges and rising demand creates bottlenecks that can lead to longer A&E waits.
Mr Deighton emphasised that discharge delays, often stemming from gaps in social or community care provision, coupled with surging demand, place enormous strain on the entire healthcare system. He added that health service leaders are working to provide patients with better access to GPs, urgent treatment centres, and community support for falls and frailty.
8 0% of Care Providers Now Using Digital Care Records – Sector Leaders Welcome “Major Milestone” but Warn of Ongoing Challenges
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and Care England have welcomed new government figures showing that 80% of CQC-registered care providers are now using digital social care record (DSCR) systems – a development described as a “fundamental shift” in how care is delivered across England.
The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed the milestone today, marking rapid progress since the publication of the previous government’s People at the Heart of Care white paper, which committed to accelerating the digitisation of adult social care.
DSCRs, commonly known as electronic care plans, allow care staff to record and access essential information digitally, replacing traditional paper-based systems. Officials say the technology is already helping providers improve care quality, safety and coordination by offering a more complete view of individuals’ needs across health and care services.
SCIE: “A remarkable shift for a sector that once relied heavily on paper”
Deborah Rozansky, Director of Policy, Research and Information at SCIE, described the achievement as transformational: “This is a significant achievement for a sector that started from a position where only around 40% of providers were fully digitised, and many were still reliant on paper-based records.
“Reaching the point where 80% of care providers are using digital social care records represents a fundamental shift in how care is planned, delivered and monitored. It also reflects the enormous commitment shown by providers, care staff, people who draw on care and support, local systems and national partners to modernise social care in challenging circumstances.”
Rozansky added that strong digital foundations are essential for government ambitions to integrate health and social care more effectively, enabling better shared decision-making and more joined-up assessments.
However, she cautioned that the sector’s biggest challenge is no longer access to technology but the “collective will to redesign systems around people rather than processes”. She emphasised the need for continued investment in relationships, infrastructure and workforce training to ensure digitisation enhances – rather than replaces – person-centred care.
“As the sector moves forward, the focus must now be on ensuring that digitisation is inclusive, well-supported and genuinely improves outcomes for people who rely on care and support every day,” she said.
Care England: Progress welcome, but real-world barriers remain
Care England, the country’s largest representative body for adult social care providers, also welcomed the progress but warned that the practicalities of implementing digital systems cannot be overlooked.
Chief Executive Professor Martin Green OBE said providers report clear benefits from digital records, including safer and more coordinated care. But he said many have faced obstacles along the way: “Feedback from our members shows that the journey has not been straightforward. Providers have experienced significant variation in local delivery, complex administrative requirements, and uncertainty about the ongoing costs once initial funding ends. These practical challenges matter, and resolving them will be essential if digital transformation is to be sustained.”
Green stressed the importance of ensuring that every provider – large or small, urban or rural – can fully participate in the digital future of social care.
A key moment for the future of care
With the overwhelming majority of providers now using digital records, sector leaders say the task ahead is to ensure these technologies translate into real improvements for residents, families and frontline staff.
The government aims to develop a Single Patient Record across health and social care, and today’s announcement marks a significant step toward that goal. But both SCIE and Care England argue that long-term success depends on simplifying processes, sustaining funding, and ensuring that digital tools strengthen the human relationships at the heart of care.
