Alarm over nurse staffing levels as NHS faces ‘worst case scenario’ December

An ‘unprecedented wave of super flu’ has prompted a fresh appeal to the government to improve nurse staffing levels and increase bed capacity in hospitals.

An average of 2,660 patients per day were in a hospital bed with flu last week – the highest ever for this time of year and up 55% up on last week, according to latest data from NHS England.

NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit warned the NHS was facing a ‘worst case scenario for this time of year – with staff being pushed to the limit to keep providing the best possible care for patients’.

Concerned for the nursing workforce and patients, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has issued an urgent plea to the government to invest in both the profession and hospital beds – including by supporting community services and social care.

RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: ‘Wards and emergency departments were full to start with but now a surging flu virus could soon overwhelm them.

‘With the peak not even here yet and corridor care already rife across the NHS, nursing staff are deeply worried about how they will maintain the safety and dignity of patients.

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‘We’re clear that treating people in unsafe, non-clinical areas like corridors, store cupboards and offices is not an acceptable response. Ministers need to act to protect patients this winter.’

Professor Ranger warned that ‘a failure to build nursing capacity’ outside of hospitals means patients are being kept in acute beds for longer.

‘Outbreaks of flu can be a challenge, but they should not de-rail the service,’ she said.

‘The reality however is a sustained lack of investment in both nursing staff and beds has impacted the ability of the NHS to safely deal with increases in demand, while a similar failure to build nursing capacity in the community, primary care and social care means vulnerable people remain stuck in hospital, severely impacting bed availability.’

She added: ‘As a matter of urgency, the government must deliver new investment this winter to improve nurse staffing levels and increase bed capacity in hospitals, but crucially also produce a rapid timeline of investment in community services and social care.

‘Those measures will be essential to ease the pressures inside hospitals and keep patients safe.’

NHS England has warned that the number of flu hospitalisations is already increasing sharply since the week covered by the data, with no peak in sight.

The number of norovirus patients in hospital beds has also risen by 35% – to an average of 354 each day last week.

Latest figures also show that A&E attendances were a record for November at 2.35 million and more than 30,000 higher than November 2024. There were also 48,814 more ambulance incidents compared to last year.

Professor Pandit warned this ‘unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year – with staff being pushed to the limit to keep providing the best possible care for patients’.

‘The numbers of patients in hospital with flu is extremely high for this time of year.

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‘Even worse, it continues to rise and the peak is not in sight yet, so the NHS faces an extremely challenging few weeks ahead.’

NHS England continues to urge those eligible to get their flu vaccination to help prevent them getting seriously ill.

Data shows more than 17.4 million have been vaccinated so far this year – over 170,000 more than this time last year. In addition, over 60,000 more frontline healthcare workers have had their flu vaccinations this year compared to a similar time last year.

‘NHS staff have pulled out all the stops to vaccinate more people than last year, and with just a week left to ensure maximum immunity from flu for Christmas Day, I would urge anyone eligible for the vaccine to please book an appointment or visit a walk-in site as soon as possible,’ added Professor Pandit.

‘Vaccination is the best protection against getting potentially very ill and it also helps protect those around you.’

Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting added: ‘There is a tidal wave of flu tearing through our hospitals.

‘We are working with the NHS to make sure it is able to cope with this as best as possible, including already getting over 17 million patients vaccinated, 170,000 more than this time last year, with over 60,000 more NHS staff also getting their jab.’

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The situation comes as the government has offered to quadruple specialty training posts to halt strike action planned by resident doctors from 17-22 December.

The British Medical Association has said it will consult resident doctor members in England on whether this is sufficient to call off the next period of strikes.

Last month, England’s chief nursing officer (CNO) issued an ‘urgent SOS’ appeal to those eligible for a flu vaccination to get their appointment booked in before the worst of the flu season hits.