NHS faces 'slightly ominous' winter as flu hits four-year high and Covid admissions climb fivefold

England's hospitals are bracing for a punishing winter after flu hospital admissions reached their highest autumn level in four years and Covid-19 admissions rose fivefold in a single month. NHS national medical director Professor Frankie Swords warned signs are "slightly ominous", saying flu admission numbers are the highest she can recall at this point in any year. Hospitals are already running at 95 per cent occupancy after their busiest summer on record in A&E. Health officials are now urgently urging eligible people to get their flu jabs immediately.

Covid cases more than tripled between August and September, rising from 1,374 to 4,589, with infections up nearly 30 per cent in the final week of September alone.

A 'drifted' strain of the H1N1 flu virus has diverged from the strain used in this year's vaccine, though officials say jabs should still prevent severe illness.

The early surge is hitting 18- to 24-year-olds hardest, raising fears England could face one of its worst winter flu seasons in years.