Seasonal respiratory illnesses: how do the latest figures compare with recent years?

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By Daniel Pye

Once again NHS services are facing increased demand from patients with seasonal respiratory illnesses during the winter months. But how do the latest figures compare with previous years?

The NHS in England is under pressure as seasonal respiratory viruses such as influenza have led to increased hospitalisations over the Christmas period.

NHS England figures show that an average of 4,469 flu patients were in hospital beds in England each day the week before last, including 211 in critical care.

Although flu seasons usually peak between December and January, their timing and length can vary greatly. Data on GP consultations for influenza-like illnesses dating back to 1989 shows that in some years the season began as early as week 42. For ease of comparison, these charts begin at week 40 and end at week 52, which was the most recent data release for 2024/25 from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) at the time of writing.