The number of patients in hospital with norovirus is up by more than half, new figures have revealed, with officials warning that ‘winter pressures’ on the NHS remain high.
Norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, is highly contagious and can be life-threatening in older adults, younger children and people with weaker immune systems.
According to the latest NHS data, an average of 640 patients a day were in hospital with norovirus last week, a 57 per cent rise compared with the week before.
At the end of the week, 830 beds were occupied due to norovirus-like symptoms.
Despite two weeks of falling numbers in flu cases, with an average of 2,676 flu patients in hospital each day during the week ending December 28, NHS doctors warned last week the worst is far from over.
Figures published on January 8 showed more than 2,940 beds were taken up by flu patients alone in the first week of the year – a nine per cent rise on the week before.
Last week, while the number of flu cases in hospital started to fall once again, total bed occupancy sat at just over 94 per cent – with the cold weather, and more injuries from slips and falls, pushing some trusts to capacity.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS national medical director, said: ‘While it’s positive that the number of flu cases in hospital is falling, this comes after a rise following the festive period – leaving bed occupancy very high at 94.1 per cent, so its clear we are still in the thick of winter.’
This increased pressure on the health service led to five trusts declaring critical incidents this week, amid a surge in norovirus and respiratory cases.
A critical incident, which is usually declared when the level of disruption means that A&E departments are no longer able to deliver critical services safely and patients may come to harm, is the highest alert level used by the NHS.
As such, Prof Pandit urged the public to ‘continue only to use 999 and A&E in life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 and 111 online for other conditions’.
One of the primary concerns when it comes to norovirus is the risk of dehydration.
Early signs can include a dry mouth and throat, dizziness, fatigue and sunken eyes.
For those who are more vulnerable, dehydration can quickly turn deadly – as it interferes with the delicate balance of salts in the blood that keep the organs functioning.
But, the good news is, despite seeing the highest ever number of ambulance incidents in December, taking the total number for 2025 to over 9.3 million callouts, NHS staff continue to see patients quicker, with over 73 per cent of patients seen within the four-hour A&E target.
The progress came despite the NHS facing its busiest year in A&E departments, with 27.8million patients admitted in 2025.
November also saw the second biggest drop in NHS waiting lists for 15 years, not including the pandemic spike, falling by more than 86,000 patients.
Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, said: ‘For too long, patients were promised change in the NHS but saw little of it. This government is turning promises into change people can actually feel.
‘That means faster care, less anxiety for families and people back on their feet and back to work.
‘This is the result of record investment and modernisation, alongside the hard work of NHS staff. We’re delivering more evening and weekend appointments, tests closer to home, surgical hubs cutting backlogs and smarter use of technology.
‘Winter pressures remain high and there’s far more to do. We’ll keep backing NHS staff to make sure patients get the care they need, when they need it.’
The vomiting bug is usually spread through close contact with someone who is infected, or by touching surfaces or objects, or eating food someone infected has touched.
Rest and having lots of fluid are often recommended by health professionals to help recover. Paracetamol may also aid a fever or aches and pains.
Many patients also ask doctors for antibiotics, but these are ineffective against viruses.
