A NATIONAL tidal wave of flu hitting hospitals has spread to Worcester and across the county as fears of a potential 'quad-demic' grip the NHS.
The number of hospitalisations for flu in Worcestershire over the past eight months is roughly triple what it was over the same period last year.
Of the 156 flu cases in hospital since April, a staggering 58 per cent of these have been admitted in the past six weeks.
County NHS chiefs have said their hospitals remain extremely busy and have urged the public to do what they can to keep well this winter.
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These figures come as the amount of flu hospitalisations has surged across England.
On December 4, the NHS revealed it feared a potential 'quad-demic' after a 350 per cent increase in flu cases and an 86 per cent rise in norovirus cases in hospitals compared to the same week last year.
NHS England said it was going into winter under more pressure than ever before.
On Thursday, the government's medical experts revealed hospitalisations as a result of flu grew by almost 39 per cent from last week's record amounts.
Sarah Shingler, Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Director of Infection, Prevention and Control, at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "In common with the situation across the country, we have seen an increase in patients in hospital testing positive for flu.
"Of the 156 since April, around a three-fold increase on the same period last year, 90 of these have been since the start of November.
"Our hospitals remain extremely busy and we would continue to encourage the public to do what they can to keep themselves well over winter.
"This may include taking up the offer of the covid or flu jab when invited so that they can keep themselves, their loved ones and their friends protected, and ensuring they are using the NHS 111 service to access the right health services for non-emergency health needs."
This comes following Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, revealing a tidal wave of seasonal viruses was affecting hospitals.
Prof Chris Whitty, the government's Chief Medical Officer, has urged those eligible to book their flu vaccinations before the December 19 deadline.