Fears Flu Will Kill Thousands After Doctors' Strike
Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, cautioned that a severe flu season could strike just as the health service recovers from a five-day walkout by resident doctors. He warned that the NHS faces one of its toughest winters yet, with hospitals nearing full capacity from December to March.
“The NHS is braced for its worst ever winter with an early flu outbreak expected to kill thousands of patients in the wake of a devastating doctors’ strike,” said Mackey.
The health service has issued a “flu jab SOS,” urging the public to get vaccinated in the coming week to ensure immunity before a potential outbreak later this month. The warning mirrors the experience of Australia, which has endured its largest flu season on record—a trend often seen as a forecast for the UK.
According to NHS data, hospital admissions for flu in England rose by 60 percent within a week, increasing from 251 to 422 cases. This level of activity is typically not seen until December, leading health officials to call the spike “unusually early.”
Officials expressed concern that many vulnerable individuals remain unaware they qualify for free flu vaccinations. Only about 28.9 percent of people with long-term health conditions have received this year’s vaccine.
Recent analysis also shows flu deaths in England have more than doubled compared to the previous year, reaching 7,757 fatalities—up from 3,555.
Author’s Summary
The NHS faces a looming winter crisis as early flu infections surge after a doctors’ strike, raising fears of thousands of deaths and renewed pressure on overflowing hospitals.