ARCTIC BLAST HITS UK AS FLU DEATHS DOUBLE IN ONE WEEK
Deaths rocket
BRITAIN will be blasted by freezing Arctic weather from tomorrow – just as hospitals report an alarming rise in cases of killer flu.
The number of deaths has doubled in a week and admissions to intensive care have also risen sharply, public health officials said yesterday.
THE NHS crisis deepened last night as flu deaths doubled in a week.
The number of people admitted to intensive care with the lethal strain of Aussie flu has also soared.
Officials revealed 48 people have now been killed by flu this winter – 23 of them in the last week.
Theresa May apologised last night after 55,000 routine ops were axed to cope with the chaos. The PM said: “I know it’s difficult, I know it’s frustrating, I know it’s disappointing for people, and I apologise.”
PRESSURE
The flu outbreak is one of the worst to hit the UK in 50 years, with 1,649 cases in England and Wales during Christmas week.
Aussie flu is adding extra pressure, with an increase of 48% in a week.
Between December 21 and 28, nine people suffering from the H3N2 strain required emergency hospital care. Since December 28, another eight have needed urgent attention.
At least 24 NHS trusts are on the highest level of alert, and medics have told of working in “third world conditions”. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the situation was “not good enough”. He added: “The Tory government has caused this crisis.”