NHS National Medical Director issues warning over norovirus

The UKHSA has also warned of a "potential second wave" of norovirus

The National Medical Director for NHS England has issued a critical warning about the rapid spread of norovirus across the UK. This week, Amy Douglas, lead epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), stressed that "norovirus cases are still exceptionally high".

She urged people to stay away from public places for at least two days if they had symptoms. Now the government is cautioning about the possibility a second norovirus wave of infections after newly released figures showed the virus is placing significant pressure on the NHS.

Hospital bed occupancy for infected patients is nearly 150% higher than this time last year. The total remains close to record levels, with an average of 1,134 patients hospitalised daily with norovirus last week.

Although this is a slight decrease from the previous week’s 1,160, it remains more than double the 470 recorded during the same period last year. This follows a 40% surge in norovirus cases over the past week, rising from 53,052 (February 12-18) to 74,324 (February 19-25). This is more than twice the number recorded during the same week in 2023/24 (35,522).

Because of this, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England, has warned people should be under "no illusions". He said: “While it is good news norovirus cases dropped, they remain extremely close to the all-time high reported last week so we can be under no illusions about the continued pressure staff are still facing.

"Hospitals remain close to capacity in part because of seasonal illnesses, and it is vital that people do everything they can to reduce the spread of what can be a deeply unpleasant illness. To help stop the spread of norovirus, the medical advice is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water and avoid mixing with other people until you have not had symptoms for two days.

"While pressures on hospitals remains incredibly high, people should continue to use NHS services in the normal way – using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attending A&E in life-threatening emergencies.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, added to the message. He stated: “These statistics show that we are still not out of the winter woods, and I want to thank all NHS staff for their hard work in the face of substantial pressures on the health service.

“We have taken important steps to reduce winter pressures this year, including getting doctors back on the frontline, rather than the picket line, and introducing the country’s first RSV vaccination scheme. Through the government’s Plan for Change, we will deliver the investment and reform required to turn our health service around, so it will be there for all of us when we need it, once again.”

Amy Douglas previously warned cases were "exceptionally high". She added that some people may get more severe symptoms that others such as "older adults, young children and those who are immunocompromised."

She said: "If you have diarrhoea and vomiting please do not visit hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others as you can still pass on the virus. Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus. Wash your hands with soapy warm water and clean surfaces with bleach-based products where possible to help stop the infection from spreading."