Fears flu will kill thousands after doctors' strike
Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, warned that a severe flu season is expected to strike just as the service recovers from a five-day doctors' walkout.
The NHS is preparing for one of its hardest winters yet, anticipating that an early flu outbreak could claim thousands of lives following the recent strike. Mackey noted that hospitals are likely to reach full capacity from December through March, creating serious pressure for recovery.
“We expect hospitals to be at capacity from December to March,” said Sir Jim Mackey.
In response, the NHS has launched a national appeal — a “flu jab SOS” — urging the public to get vaccinated next week to ensure immunity before the virus peaks later this month.
The warning comes after Australia faced its largest flu outbreak on record, often an indicator of what the UK might soon experience. Over the past week, flu hospital admissions in England have risen by 60 percent, jumping from 251 to 422 cases, a rate usually not seen until early December.
Health officials described the current increase as “unusually early” and expressed concern that many vulnerable individuals do not realize they qualify for a free vaccine. Only 28.9 percent of those with chronic health conditions have received this year’s shot.
New figures also reveal that flu-related deaths in England more than doubled last year, reaching 7,757 compared with 3,555 the year before.
Author’s Summary
Health leaders warn the UK faces a severe flu wave after the doctors’ strike, urging mass vaccination to prevent thousands of potential deaths this winter.