Surge in Flu Cases Over Christmas Leaves Welsh Ambulance Service Struggling
The Welsh Ambulance Service faced overwhelming demand due to a flu surge over the holiday season, prompting critical incidents and longer wait times.
Wales, Flu, Welsh Ambulance Service, NHS, Jeremy Miles, Respiratory Illnesses
Wales: The NHS in Wales really struggled over Christmas and New Year. There was a huge spike in flu and respiratory illnesses, and it hit the Welsh Ambulance Service hard. Health Secretary Jeremy Miles mentioned this in the Senedd, saying they even had to declare a critical incident on December 30.
He explained that despite their planning, the combination of cold weather and illnesses like flu and RSV led to a surge in demand. Miles pointed out that not enough people, including healthcare workers, were getting their flu shots this winter, which is concerning.
He said, “Uptake this year has been lower than expected.” It’s especially worrying since flu is spreading in local communities. The vaccination rates for those over 65 are below 70%, and only 27% of health workers got their shots, down from 33% last year.
In December, hospital admissions for flu jumped by 18% during Christmas week. Right now, over 900 people are in hospitals with flu, Covid, and RSV, which is 20% more than last year.
From December 19 to New Year’s Day, there was a 19% rise in 999 calls for breathing issues compared to last year. This has made it tough to triage and discharge patients, leading to longer waits and crowded emergency departments.
When the critical incident was declared, over 340 calls were waiting to be answered. More than half of the ambulances were stuck outside hospitals, unable to hand over patients.
After the situation improved, First Minister Eluned Morgan shared photos of her visiting A&E staff with chocolates. But Conservative leader Darren Millar pointed out that health professionals want better services, not just treats.
Baroness Morgan noted that many elderly patients with respiratory issues couldn’t be discharged due to a lack of care packages, especially during the holidays when staff are off. She emphasized that many patients are ready to go home but can’t because of social care issues.
Mr. Miles mentioned that in the coming days, health boards need to focus on safely discharging patients to improve capacity and respond better to winter pressures.