Flu hospital admission rise worst seen - pharmacist

A pharmacist in Herefordshire has said she expects hospital admission numbers caused by flu to "worsen".

Pharmacist Sara Ali said current levels of admission were the "worst since [she] was qualified".

Ms Ali, from Bromyard Pharmacy, said admissions were already higher in comparison to previous years, adding: "I think in line with the NHS and the projection volume, I do think over this winter season, it will worsen, unfortunately".

Wye Valley NHS Trust (WVT) in Hereford told the BBC flu figures remained relatively low but it was prepared for an increase.

"Flu figures at WVT remain relatively low – yesterday we had eight inpatients with flu – compared with the maximum number we've had in (20) during the last couple of weeks," a spokesperson said.

"However, we tend to track a couple of weeks behind the national picture in Herefordshire, so we are prepared for an increase and the trust remains committed to the NHSE flu programme."

In other areas, hospitals have asked staff to wear face coverings as flu cases increase.

Ms Ali said in Bromyard she had also seen an increase in people requesting over-the-counter medicines.

"We have seen a huge increase in footfall. Stock levels have increased and we've had to order more Covid and flu remedies in, as well as cough syrups, things like that," she said.

Despite projections, Ms Ali said it was too soon to know how bad this flu season was, but warned if people had other illnesses such as Covid or underlying health conditions it could "magnify" flu.

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