'Slightly ominous': NHS chief warns flu admissions are highest she can recall as cases soar across England

From the Newshound archive · first published 8 October 2026 · last updated 9 October 2026.

Hospital bed occupancy in England hit 95% in September, with nearly 100,000 cases of corridor care reported — and Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, says flu admissions are the highest she can remember for this point in any year. September's flu figures have already exceeded the same period in each of the past four years, driven by a surge among young adults. The rise coincides with an uptick in Covid cases, landing on top of what the NHS describes as its busiest-ever summer in emergency departments.

Swab positivity nationally jumped from 5.0% to 6.5% in the week to October 4, with hospital admissions reaching 1.97 per 100,000.

In London, test positivity reached 5.6% by end of September — more than double the 2.5% recorded at end of August.

Experts suspect a late southern hemisphere flu season is driving early UK importations; 3.9 million people have been vaccinated since September 1.