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NW NHS Faces Unprecedented Flu Wave
7 Dec, 2025
Summary
- North West NHS bosses have warned of a severe winter flu season.
- Hospital admissions for flu have more than doubled compared to last year.
- Royal Blackburn Hospital recently apologized for emergency department queues.
Health officials in the North West of England have sounded an alarm, warning of a severe winter flu season that is placing significant strain on healthcare services. The region is experiencing what is described as an unprecedented wave of influenza cases, leading to a sharp increase in hospital admissions.
Latest data reveals that last week, an average of 295 individuals were hospitalized with flu. This figure represents more than a twofold increase compared to the same week in the previous year, highlighting the severity of the current outbreak.
The alert follows recent apologies from the Royal Blackburn Hospital regarding prolonged queues at its emergency department. A spokesperson for the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust stated that the department was inundated with critically ill patients, underscoring the immediate pressure on local healthcare facilities.
